A HEADSTONE HAS BEEN ERECTED OVER THE PREVIOUSLY UNMARKED GRAVE OF COLOUR SERGEANT GEORGE WALLER VC, 60TH RIFELS, IN HOLY TRINITY CHURCHYARD HURSTPIERPOINT, WEST SUSSEX.
15 December 2014


( select to enlarge )


Colour Sergeant George Waller returned to his home in Sussex after earning his Victoria Cross during the Indian Mutiny of 1857 - 1859 serving with the 1st Battalion, 60th Rifles ( later King's Royal Rifle Corps ). On the 10 January 1877 George Waller died at his home 'The Oak', a beerhouse, in Cuckfield, Sussex, and was buried in an unmarked grave in Holy Trinity Churchyard, Hurstpierpoint.

It was during the course of research and planning for a West Sussex VC ride out that the Sussex Royal British Legion ( Motorcycle ) Riders Branch 3542 discovered that a Victoria Cross recipient was lying in an unmarked grave in a Hurstpierpoint churchyard.

Martin Johnson, the Sussex Representative of the RBLR, made contact with the Holy Trinity Church archivist who, after much research, was able to pinpoint the exact burial location of Waller in the churchyard.

Contact was then made with a variety of organisations to attempt to raise the necessary funds for a headstone and fortunately the local undertaker and a local businessman decided to fund the purchase of the stone for Colour Sergeant George Waller VC. A small ceremony took place on Saturday, 13th December 2014, to unveil the new headstone in the company of the a representitave of the King's Royal Rifle Corps and members of the local community.


For the award of the Victoria Cross

[ London Gazette, 20 January 1860 ], Delhi, Indian Mutiny, 14 & 18 September 1857, Colour Sergeant George Waller, 1st Bn, 60th Rifles ( King's Royal Rifle Corps )

For conspicuous bravery at Delhi on the 14th September 1857, in charging and capturing the Enemy’s guns near the Cabul Gate; and again, on the 18th of September 1857, in the repulse of a sudden attack made by the Enemy on a gun near the Chaudney Chouk.

( Elected by the Non-Commissioned Officers of the Regiment under Rule 13 of the Royal Warrant dated 29 January 1856 )

George Waller was invested with his Victoria Cross by Queen Victoria at Windsor Castle on the 9th November 1860.


Medal entitlement of Colour Sergeant George Waller,
1st Bn, 60th Rifles

  • Victoria Cross
  • Punjab Medal ( 1848-49 )
    • 2 clasps:
    • "Mooltan" - "Goojerat"
  • Indian Mutiny Medal ( 1857-58 )
    • 1 clasp:
    • "Delhi"
  • Army Long Service & Good Conduct Medal

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Iain Stewart, 15 December 2014