Personal info
- Name: William OXENHAM
- D.O.B: 15th Oct, 1821
- D.O.A: 30th Jun, 1857
- D.O.D: 29th Dec, 1874
- Award: Victoria Cross
- Occupation at time of action: Corporal, 32nd (the Cornwall) Regiment of Foot
- Book: The Complete History - Volume 2
Anderson’s Post, Lucknow, India 30 June 1857
30 June 1857
The Indian Mutiny 1857-59
After Sir Henry Lawrence was defeated at Chinhut on 30 June 1857, he and his force withdrew into the Residency Compound at Lucknow, which the mutineers immediately began to besiege. Part of the hastily fortified perimeter line ran through the house of Captain R P Anderson, 25th Native Infantry, at the south-eastern corner of the compound. Known as Anderson’s Post, this was manned by Anderson himself in command of a small body of soldiers and civilians. When a rebel shot hit a column of its verandah, this collapsed on top of one of the defenders, William Capper of the Bengal Civil Service. The others eventually managed to dig him out. Remarkably, his only injuries were a few bruises.
Citation
For distinguished gallantry in saving the life of Mr. Capper, of the Bengal Civil Service, by extricating him from the ruins of a Verandah which had fallen on him, Corporal Oxenham being for ten minutes exposed to a heavy fire, while doing so.