William Fraser McDonell
Recipient of the Victoria Cross
About William Fraser McDonell
Lived 1829 – 1894 (aged 64). William Fraser McDonell was a British judge, colonial administrator and civil servant.
William Fraser McDonell VC (17 December 1829 – 31 July 1894) was a British civil servant, judge and a recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. He is one of only five civilians to have been awarded the VC.
Details Educated at Cheltenham College and East India Company College (later succeeded by the Haileybury and Imperial Service College), he was 27 years old, and a civilian in the Bengal Civil Service during the Indian Mutiny when the following deed took place on 30 July 1857 during the retreat from Arrah for which he was awarded the VC:
He was later a Judge of the High Court of Judicature in Calcutta from 1874 to 1876.
The Medal His VC is on display in the Lord Ashcroft Gallery at the Imperial War Museum, London.
McDonell Monument Kolkata
Adjacent to the Kolkata High Court is a water fountain dedicated to William Fraser McDonell.
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Important facts
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Contemporaries
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Frequently asked questions
Who was William Fraser McDonell?
recipient of the Victoria Cross (1829–1894)
When was William Fraser McDonell born?
William Fraser McDonell was born on 17 December 1829 in Cheltenham.
When did William Fraser McDonell die?
William Fraser McDonell died on 31 July 1894 in Cheltenham.
What was William Fraser McDonell's occupation?
William Fraser McDonell was a judge, colonial administrator and civil servant.
What nationality was William Fraser McDonell?
William Fraser McDonell was British.
Sources & further reading
· Wikipedia: William Fraser McDonell
· DBpedia: William Fraser McDonell
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). William Fraser McDonell. https://biography.guide/william-fraser-mcdonell/
MLA: "William Fraser McDonell." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/william-fraser-mcdonell/.
Chicago: "William Fraser McDonell." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/william-fraser-mcdonell/.
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