THE VICTORIA CROSS, ON ITS OWN WITHOUT THE INDIAN MUTINY MEDAL, AWARDED TO CAPTAIN WILLIAM KERR, SOUTHERN MAHRATTA HORSE, HAS BEEN SOLD AT AUCTION BY SOTHEBY'S OF LONDON.
19 May 2000

Medal entitlement of Captain William Kerr,
Southern Mahratta Horse

  • Victoria Cross
  • ( Indian Mutiny Medal ( 1857-58 ))
    • 1 clasp:
    • "Central India"


The Victoria Cross, on its own without the campaign medal, awarded to Captain William Kerr, Southern Mahratta Horse, has been sold at auction by Southeby's of London. The sale hammer price realised £25,000 and the VC was purchased by the Michael Ashcroft Trust the holding institution for the Lord Ashcroft VC Collection. The VC has gone on display in the Imperial War Museum's Lord Ashcroft Gallery.


For the award of the Victoria Cross

[ London Gazette, 24 April 1858 ], Kolapore, Indian Mutiny, 10 July 1857, Lieutenant William Alexander Kerr, Southern Mahratta Horse.

On the breaking out of a mutiny in the 27th Bombay Native Infantry in July 1857, a party of the mutineers took up a position in the stronghold, or paga, near the town of Kolapore, and defended themselves to extremity.

Lieutenant Kerr, of the Southern Mahratta Irregular Horse, took a prominent share of the attack on the position, and at the moment when its capture was of great public importance, he made a dash at one of the gateways, with some dismounted horsemen, and forced an entrance by breaking down the gate.

The attack was completely successful, and the defenders were either killed, wounded, or captured, a result that may with perfect justice be attributed to Lieutenant Kerr’s dashing and devoted bravery ).

( Letter from the Political Superintendent at Kolapore, to the Adjutant General of the Army, dated 10th September 1857 ).

William Kerr was invested with his Victoria Cross by Major General F. T. Farrell at Belgaum, India, on the 4th September 1858.


William Kerr died on the 21st May 1919 and was buried in the Cheriton Road Cemetery, Folkstone.

Acquisitions

Go to VC UK flag Home Page

Iain Stewart, 19 May 2000