{{Short description|Recipient of the Victoria Cross}} {{more citations needed|date=April 2019}} {{Use British English|date=February 2015}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2026}} {{Infobox military person |name= William Goate |birth_date=12 January 1836 |death_date=24 October 1901 (aged 65) |birth_place= Fritton, Norfolk, England |death_place=Southsea, Portsmouth, England |burial_place=Highland Road Cemetery, Portsmouth |image= William Goate VC.jpg |caption=from display in Derby Museum |nickname= |allegiance= {{UK}} |service_years= |rank=Corporal |branch=23px British Army |commands= |unit=9th Lancers |battles=Indian Mutiny |awards= Victoria Cross |other_work= }}

'''William Goate''' (or '''Goat''') VC (12 January 1836 &ndash; 24 October 1901) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross.<ref>[http://www.friendsofhighlandroadcemetery.org.uk/vc/goate.htm Friends of Highland Road Cemetery]</ref>

==Details== Goate was 22 years old, and a Lance Corporal in the 9th Lancers, British Army during the Indian Mutiny when the following deed took place on 6 March 1858 at the Capture of Lucknow, India for which he was awarded the VC:<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=22212|page=5512|date=24 December 1858}}</ref> {{blockquote|For conspicuous gallantry at Lucknow, on the 6th of March, 1858, in having dismounted, in the presence of a number of the enemy, and taken up the body of Major Smyth, 2nd Dragoon Guards, which he attempted to bring off the field, and after being obliged to relinquish it, being surrounded by the enemy's cavalry, he went a second time under a heavy fire to recover the body. Despatch from Major-General Sir James Hope Grant, K.C.B., dated 8th April, 1858.}}

He later achieved the rank of Corporal.

==Later life== Goate moved to Southsea in May 1900 having lived in Jarrow and worked for 22 years in Palmers shipbuilding firm and that for 18 years he was a member of the Jarrow Company of the Volunteers in which he held the same rank as he did in the Lancers. He died aged 64 at 22 Leopold Street, Southsea, from cancer.<ref>'VC Man died at Southsea', ''The Evening News'' (Portsmouth), 25 October 1901, Page 6, Column 3.</ref>

thumb|upright|Grave of William Goate V.C. Goat was buried in Highland Road Cemetery and the grave has been reused twice since. There was no headstone marking his grave, but a memorial stone was erected in October 2003.

==Medal== His Victoria Cross is displayed in the Regimental Museum of the 9th/12th Royal Lancers at Derby Museum, England.

== References == {{reflist}}

==Bibliography== *{{cite book|last=Whitworth|first=Alan|title=VCs of the North: Cumbria, Durham & Northumberland|year=2015|publisher=Pen and Sword Books|isbn=978-1473848221}}

==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20041210053535/http://www.homeusers.prestel.co.uk/stewart/hampshir.htm Location of grave and VC medal] ''(Hampshire)'' *[https://books.google.com/books?id=AIq3Nz66-GoC&pg=PA180 The VC Its Heroes and their Valor] *[http://www.victoriacross.org.uk/bbgoate.htm Auction details]

{{Derby Museum}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Goate, William}} Category:British recipients of the Victoria Cross Category:Indian Rebellion of 1857 recipients of the Victoria Cross Category:9th Queen's Royal Lancers soldiers Category:1836 births Category:1901 deaths Category:Deaths from stomach cancer in England Category:People from Morningthorpe Category:British Army recipients of the Victoria Cross Category:People from Jarrow Category:Military personnel from Norfolk Category:Burials in Hampshire