William Francis Frederick Waller

Colonel William Francis Frederick Waller, VC (20 August 1839 – 29 January 1885) was a Bengal Army and British Indian Army officer. He 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 forces.

Details

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.

Waller was eighteen years old, and a lieutenant in the 25th Bombay Light Infantry during the Indian Mutiny. 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. His VC is on display in the Lord Ashcroft Gallery at the Imperial War Museum, London.

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