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VC146 William Fraser McDonell
BORN 17 December 1829
DIED 31 July 1894 AGE 64
VC Won 30 July 1857 AGE 27
Place VC Won Arrah
War/Campaign The Indian Mutiny
Name William Fraser McDonell No.
VC Issue No. 146 Awards VC
Regiment Bengal Civil Service
Later
Now
Rank VC Won Mr
Rank End Of Career Mr
Place Of Birth Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England
Place Of Death Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England
Buried/Location Ashes St Peter's Churchyard, Church Road, Leckhampton, Gloucestershire, England
Cremated
Date Buried/Cremated
Headstone Headstone Plot/Grave no.
Gazetted 17 February 1860
VC Presented 09 November 1860 by Queen Victoria at Home Park, Windsor Castle, Berkshire, England
Memorials
P Headstone, St Peter's Churchyard, Church Road, Leckhampton, Gloucestershire, England
P Named on Roll of Honour, Big Classical, Cheltenham College, Gloucestershire
Brass plaque in Cheltenham College Chapel, Gloucestershire
Display & named in memorial book 'For Valour', Cheltenham College Library, Gloucestershire
Entry in 'Honours Book', Archives Department, Cheltenham College, Gloucestershire
P Framed citation & picture in Classroom no. 2, Centenary Block, Cheltenham College, Gloucestershire
Inscribed memorial drinking fountain & horse-trough, Calcutta, India
P Blue plaque Pittville House, Wellington Road, Cheltenham
By The Way…
Second civilian to be awarded the VC
VC Held By
The Lord Ashcroft collection I.W.M
As part of the relief force of Arrah, William McDonell of the Bengal Civil Service managed to escape from an ambush onto a boat along with others.
He took command of the situation and freed the rudder, enabling the boat to steer down the river to safety, all the while under fire from both banks
