William Temple was an Irish 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.

He was 30 years old, and a Assistant Surgeon in the Royal Regiment of Artillery, British Army during the Waikato-Hauhau Maori War, New Zealand when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 20 November 1863 at Rangiriri , New Zealand, during an assault on the enemy's position, Assistant Surgeon Temple, together with another officer (Arthur Frederick Pickard) exposed themselves to imminent danger in crossing the entrance to the Maori keep at a point upon which the enemy were concentrating their fire, in order to render assistance to the wounded. Both officers showed great calmness under most trying circumstances.

Reference

• Irish Winners of the Victoria Cross (Richard Doherty & David Truesdale, 2000)
• Monuments To Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
• The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)

External links

• Location of grave and VC medal (Hampshire)
• Lieutenant Colonel W. Temple

This page has been migrated from the Victoria Cross Reference with permission.