TAGART, HAROLD ARTHUR LEWIS, Major,
was born 20 June 1870, at Old Sneyd Park, Gloucestershire, son of Francis
Tagart, JP, DL, of Old Sneyd Park, Gloucestershire, and 199 Queen's Gate,
London, and of Isabella Ongley Hopson, daughter of Captain Ongley Hopson,
23rd Light Dragoons. He was educated at Eton, and at Trinity College,
Cambridge; was gazetted to the 15th Hussars, as Second Lieutenant, 3
December 1890; became Lieutenant 25 May 1892, and Captain 13 June 1896; was
ADC to HRH the Duke of Connaught, GOC at Aldershot, 1897. He served in the
South African War, as Brigade Major, Cavalry Brigade, 19 February 1900 to 30
August 1901; was promoted to Major 17 September 1900. He was present at the
operations in the Orange Free State, May 1900, including actions at Hout Nek
(Thoba Mountain), Vet River (5 and 6 May) and Zand River. Operations in the
Transvaal, May and June 1900, including action near Johannesburg.
Operations in Cape Colony, south of Orange River, 1900. He was invalided
home with enteric fever. For his services in this campaign he was mentioned
in Despatches [London Gazette, 16 April 1901]; received the Queen's Medal
with three clasps, and was created a Companion of the Distinguished Service
Order [London Gazette, 19 April 1901]: "Harold Arthur Lewis Tagart, Major,
15th Hussars. In recognition of services during the operations in South
Africa". The Insignia were presented by the King 3 June 1901. He was
Brigade Major, Cavalry Brigade, Aldershot, 21 December 1901 to 30 September
1902; was DAAG, Presidency District, Calcutta, 2 July 1904; Brigade Major,
Meerut Cavalry Brigade, 20 February 1905 to 1 November 1906. Major Tagart
was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel 10 October 1911. From 1914 he served in
the European War; as DA and QMG, Cavalry Corps, from 10 October 1914;
Temporary Brigadier General from 10 October 1914 to 24 October 1915,
commanding a brigade on the Aisne, and became Major General 25 October
1915. He was made a Commander of the Legion of Honour, and was created a CB
in 1915; was DA and QMG, 3rd Army, 1915 and 1916, and was invalided home in
1916; DAG, Home Forces, 1916 to 1918, when he was again invalided. He
retired 18 March 1919. Major General Tagart was created a KCMG in 1918;
mentioned in Despatches five times. Sir H A L Tagart's favourite
recreations were farming, hunting and shooting. He married (1st), in 1900,
Lady Mary Stuart Keppel (who died in 1908), sixth daughter of the 7th Earl
of Albemarle, and (secondly), in 1908, Josephine Mary Charlotte, daughter of
Hubert Washington Hibbert.
KCB (m), KCMG,
DSO, IGS 1895 (1) RofC, QSA (3) CC Tal RofL, BWM, Victory Medal, 1911 Delhi
Durbar, 1935 Jubilee, 1937 Coronation, Legion dHonneur (France) 3rd
Class, Order of the Crown (Belgium) 3rd Class, Order of the Crown
(Italy) 3rd Class.
Regimental
Museum, Winchester 1996.
