Colonel William Francis Frederick Waller VC (20 August 1839 – 29 January 1885) was a recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and

Commonwealth A commonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good. Historically, it has been synonymous with "republic". The noun "commonwealth", meaning "public welfare, general good or advantage", dates from the ...

forces.

Details

Grave of William Francis Frederick Waller

Waller was born at Dagoolie, India, on 20 August 1839. He was the son of Thomas Waller & his wife Alicia Ann née Gilbert. He married Mary Anna Grierson on 16 June 1864 at Bombay, India.GRAVE LOCATION FOR HOLDERS OF THE VICTORIA CROSS IN THE COUNTY OF AVON
at prestel.co.uk, retrieved 4 August 2008 Waller was eighteen years old, and a lieutenant in the

25th Bombay Light Infantry The 125th Napier's Rifles was an infantry regiment of the British Indian Army. At various points in history it was also known as the 1st Extra Battalion Bombay Native Infantry, the 25th Regiment of Bombay Native Infantry (1826–1889) and the 25th ...

during the

Indian Mutiny The Indian Rebellion of 1857 was a major uprising in India in 1857–58 against the rule of the British East India Company, which functioned as a sovereign power on behalf of the British Crown. The rebellion began on 10 May 1857 in the fo ...

. On 20 June 1858 at Gwalior, British India, Waller and another officer who was killed during the action, Lieutenant Rose, were the only Europeans present at the storming of the Gwalior Fort. With a handful of men they organised a surprise attack by night on the fort, climbing onto the roof of a house, shooting the gunners who opposed them, and, after hand-to-hand fighting, taking the fort, killing everyone in it. Rose was killed, but for his part in the action Waller was awarded the Victoria Cross. His citation read: However, the award was not gazetted until 25 February 1862. He later achieved the rank of colonel. He died at

Bath, Somerset Bath () is a city in the Bath and North East Somerset unitary area in the county of Somerset, England, known for and named after its Roman-built baths. At the 2021 Census, the population was 101,557. Bath is in the valley of the River Avon, ...

, on 29 January 1885 and is buried there in the

Locksbrook Cemetery __NOTOC__ Locksbrook Cemetery is a municipal cemetery located in Lower Weston, Bath, England. It was opened in 1864 as Walcot Cemetery, and occupies , originally serving the parishes of Walcot, Weston and St Saviour's. The cemetery was closed f ...

. His VC is on display in the Lord Ashcroft Gallery at the

Imperial War Museum Imperial War Museums (IWM) is a British national museum organisation with branches at five locations in England, three of which are in London. Founded as the Imperial War Museum in 1917, the museum was intended to record the civil and military ...

, London.

Family

Waller married and had children, including Frederick Charles Livingston Waller.

References

External links

Location of grave and VC medal biographical details
''(Avon)''

{{DEFAULTSORT:Waller, William Francis Frederick 1839 births 1885 deaths British recipients of the Victoria Cross Bombay Staff Corps officers British East India Company Army officers Indian Rebellion of 1857 recipients of the Victoria Cross Indian Political Service officers