William Reynolds (VC)

William Reynolds
Depiction of the battle of Alma
Born	1827 Edinburgh, Scotland
Died	20 October 1869 (aged 41-42) Strand, London
Buried	Brookwood Cemetery, London
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Rank	Corporal
Unit	Scots Fusilier Guards
Battles/wars	Crimean War
Awards	Victoria Cross

William Reynolds VC (1827 – 20 October 1869) was a Scottish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. Reynolds was the first private to receive the award.

Details[]

Reynolds' grave in Brookwood Cemetery

He was about 27 years old, and a private in the Scots Fusilier Guards, British Army during the Crimean War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 20 September 1854 at the Battle of the Alma, Crimean Peninsula, when the formation of the line was disordered, Private Reynolds behaved with conspicuous gallantry, in rallying the men round the Colours.^[1]

Further information[]

He later achieved the rank of corporal.

The medal[]

His Victoria Cross is displayed at The Guards Regimental Headquarters (Scots Guards RHQ), Wellington Barracks, Chelsea, London, England.

References[]

• Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
• The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
• Scotland's Forgotten Valour (Graham Ross, 1995)

External links[]

• Scots Guards Regimental and Association Website
• Location of grave and VC medal (Brookwood Cemetery)
• The Brookwood Cemetery Society (Known Holders of the Victoria Cross Commemorated in Brookwood Cemetery)
• Special ceremony at Edinburgh Castle in April 2007
• William Reynolds at Find a Grave