A SCARCE VICTORIA CROSS CABINET CARD OF COLONEL-SERGEANT WILLIAM GARDNER. WHO WAS AWARDED THE VICTORIA CROSS FOR ACTIONS DURING THE INDIAN MUTINY AT BAREILLY IN WHICH HE SAVED THE LIFE OF LIEUTENANTCOLONEL CAMERON

“For his conspicuous and gallant conduct on the morning of the 5th of May last, in having saved the life of Lieutenant-Colonel Cameron, his Commanding Officer, who during the action at Bareilly on that day, had been knocked from his horse, when three Fanatics rushed upon him. Colour-Sergeant Gardner ran out, and in a moment bayoneted two of them, and was in the act of attacking the third, when he was shot down by another soldier of the Regiment.”

William Gardner (1821-1897) was born in Nemphlar, Lanarkshire on 3rd March 1821. He joined the 42nd Regiment of Foot (later The Black Watch) and took part in the Crimean War, where he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. He was then posted to the Indian Mutiny, where on the 5th May 1858, he would perform the act of gallantry at Bareilly which would earn him the Victoria Cross………

The above taken from the fine vconline website:

http://www.vconline.org.uk/william-gardner-vc/4586759116.html

A scarce original period VC recipient VC Cabinet Card