Gardner - Indian Mutiny VC sold

[Les]

A VICTORIA Cross awarded to a Scottish soldier during the Indian mutiny in 1858 has been sold by his family, with the proceeds going to charity.

Quartermaster Sergeant William Gardner, of the 42nd Royal Highland Regiment, the Black Watch, was awarded the VC after saving the life of his commanding officer.

That medal and five other decorations have passed down through the family for generations but have now been sold by Dr David Gardner, his great-grandson, for £135,000 to the Ashcroft Collection.

Dr Gardner, of North Yorkshire, has given the money to charity. One of three main beneficiaries is Erskine, which provides care for more than 300 ex-servicemen and women throughout Scotland. It will receive £40,000. The charity, which has just celebrated its 90th birthday, runs five care homes and a network of other related support services. It is based at Bishopton, Renfrewshire.

Other donations have gone to the Back-Up Trust, a charity working with those paralysed through spinal injury, and to Glasgow University, for the establishment of a William Gardner VC Undergraduate Scholarship. This will be open to science or engineering students from schools in the south-west of Scotland.

* Published Date: 08 January 2008
* Source: The Scotsman

[Les]

I can also add that this medal is now in the Lord Ashcoft Collection.

[Les]

Feb 1 2008

An act of bravery during one of the fiercest battles of British military history 123 years ago earned the Victoria Cross for a brave soldier.

An now its brought a welcome cash boost of thousands of pounds to a Renfrewshire charity.

Sergeant William Gardner, of the Black Watch regiment, was awarded the coveted honour for saving the life of an officer during the Battle of Bareilly in India.

He waded into action with his rifle and bayonet, rescuing the officer and dragging him to safety.

For his selfless act, on May 5, 1885, Sergeant Gardner, who served previously in the Crimean War, received the Victoria Cross – Britain’s highest military honour for acts of bravery on the battlefield.

Now his bravery will live on after his great grandson, Dr David Gardner, a retired scientist, sold his VC and other medals to the Ashcroft collection, which is owned by Lord Ashcroft, deputy chairman of the Conservative party, and owner of the largest collection of VCs in the world.

The prestigious award exchanged hands for £135,000 with £40,000 going to Erskine Home, which cares for more than 300 ex-servicemen and women.

Dr Gardner said: “I wanted the VC, along with other medals which he won, to be of benefit to people and Army-related and Scottish-related charities.”

Added Colonel Martin Gibson, Chief Executive of Erskine: “We are very grateful to Dr Gardner for this wonderful donation which will help to fund the physiotherapy department at Erskine.”

Born in Nemphlar, near Lanark in 1821, Sergeant Gardner served in the army for 21 years before settling in Bothwell, where he died in 1897.

His funeral in the town’s cemetery was watched by hundreds of local residents.