Early Life
William Napier was born at Keighley in Yorkshire, England on 20 August 1828, the son of Samuel Napier of the Scottish Napiers and his wife Mary (née Horsfall).
William was educated at a private school and grew up in a military family. His uncle William Napier was a Grenadier Guard (2nd Battalion), who fought at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815 and was awarded the Waterloo Medal which he gave to William.
By the time William had left school he had the urge to join the army. On 10 December 1846 he enlisted at Leeds, Yorkshire with the 13th Light Infantry.
Read more about this topic: William Napier (VC)
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