William Fraser McDonell VC (17 December 1829 – 31 July 1894) was a British civil servant, judge and a recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Educated at Cheltenham College and East India Company College (later succeeded by the Haileybury and Imperial Service College), he was 27 years old, and a civilian in the Bengal Civil Service during the Indian Mutiny when the following deed took place on 30 July 1857 during the retreat from Arrah for which he was awarded the VC: Mr. William Fraser M'Donell, of the Bengal Civil Service, Magistrate of Sarun Date of Act of Bravery, 30th July, 1857

On the lashing being cut, the boat obeyed the helm, and thus thirty-five European Soldiers escaped certain death.

[2] His VC is on display in the Lord Ashcroft Gallery at the Imperial War Museum, London.

Adjacent to the Kolkata High Court is a water fountain dedicated to Willam Fraser McDonell[3]