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<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Use British English|date=March 2014}}<br />
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2022}}<br />
{{Infobox military person<br />
| name = William Alexander Kerr<br />
| image = William Alexander Kerr.jpg<br />
| image_size = <br />
| alt = <br />
| caption = Photograph by Lowestoft Broughton, c. 1904<br />
| nickname = <br />
| birth_date = {{birth date|1831|07|18|df=yes}}<br />
| birth_place = [[Melrose, Scotland|Melrose, Scottish Borders]]<br />
| death_date = {{death date and age|1919|05|21|1831|07|18|df=yes}}<br />
| death_place = [[Folkestone]], [[Kent]]<br />
| placeofburial = Cheriton Road Cemetery, Folkestone<br />
| allegiance = United Kingdom<br />
| branch = [[Bombay Army]]<br />
| serviceyears = 1849–1860<br />
| rank = [[Captain (land and air)|Captain]]<br />
| unit = [[124th Duchess of Connaught's Own Baluchistan Infantry|24th Bombay Native Infantry]]<br />
| commands = <br />
| battles = [[Indian Mutiny]]<br />
| awards = [[Victoria Cross]]<br/>[[Mentioned in Despatches]]<br />
| laterwork = <br />
| relations = <br />
}}<br />
'''William Alexander Kerr''', [[Victoria Cross|VC]] (18 July 1831 – 21 May 1919) was a Scottish soldier, writer 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 of Nations|Commonwealth]] forces.<br />
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==Details==<br />
Kerr was a 25 year old [[lieutenant]] in the [[124th Duchess of Connaught's Own Baluchistan Infantry|24th Bombay Native Infantry]] (now 6th Battalion The [[Baloch Regiment]], [[Pakistan Army]]) who was serving with the Southern Mahratta Horse during the [[Indian Mutiny]], when the following deed took place on 10 July 1857 at [[Kolapore]], India for which he was awarded the [[Victoria Cross]] (VC):<br />
{{quote|24th Bombay Native Infantry. Lieutenant William Alexander Kerr. Date of Act of Bravery, 10th July, 1857.<br />
<br />
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<br />
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.<br />
(Letter from the Political Superintendent at Kolapore, to the Adjutant-General of the Army, dated 10th September, 1857.)<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=22131|page=2050|date=27 April 1858}}</ref>}}<br />
[[File:Lt WA Kerr earning the Victoria Cross during the Indian Mutiny.jpg|thumb|right|Lieutenant William Alexander Kerr, [[124th Duchess of Connaught's Own Baluchistan Infantry|24th Bombay Native Infantry]], winning the Victoria Cross near Kolapore, July 1857. Oil on canvas by Chevalier Louis-William Desanges, c. 1859.|265px]]<br />
<br />
Kerr attended Loretto School. He achieved the rank of [[Captain (land and air)|captain]]. His VC is on display at the Lord Ashcroft Gallery, [[Imperial War Museum]], London.<br />
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==References==<br />
{{Reflist}}<br />
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==External links==<br />
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20041214222822/http://www.homeusers.prestel.co.uk/stewart/kent.htm Location of grave and VC medal] ''(Kent)''<br />
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20041214222038/http://www.homeusers.prestel.co.uk/stewart/aaauctio.htm VC medal auction details]<br />
* {{Find a Grave|11395185}}<br />
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{{Authority control}}<br />
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Kerr, William Alexander}}<br />
[[Category:British recipients of the Victoria Cross]]<br />
[[Category:British East India Company Army officers]]<br />
[[Category:1831 births]]<br />
[[Category:1919 deaths]]<br />
[[Category:Indian Rebellion of 1857 recipients of the Victoria Cross]]<br />
[[Category:People educated at Loretto School, Musselburgh]]<br />
[[Category:People from Melrose, Scottish Borders]]</div>Bot