MASTERSON, JAMES EDWARD IGNATIUS,
Lieutenant, was born on 20 June 1862. He was educated by the Marist
Brothers, and entered the Royal Irish Fusiliers in 1881. He served in Egypt
in 1882, including Tel-el-Kebir, and received the Medal with clasp and the
Khedive's Star. He was commissioned into the 2nd Devonshire Regiment in
1891. He served in Burmah from 1891 to 1902, and received the Burma Medal
and clasp. He served on the North-West Frontier of India from 1897 to 1898,
including operations in the Khankia Valley, the Battle of Gunda Kai and the
action in the Sampagha Pass. For his services in this campaign he
received
the Medal with two clasps. He became Captain in 1900. He served in the
Boer War of 1899-1902, and was present at the Battle of Elandslaagte and at
the actions of Reitfontein and Lombard's Kop, and at the Defence of
Ladysmith, including the action of Waggon Hill. During this campaign he was
wounded, and was mentioned in Despatches three times. He received the
Brevet of
Major, the Queen's Medal with two clasps, and the Victoria Cross
[London Gazette, 4 June, 1901]: "James Masterson, Lieutenant, 1st Battalion
The Devonshire Regiment. Date
of Act of Bravery: 6 January 1900.
During the action at Waggon Hill, on the 6th January 1900, Lieutenant
Masterson commanded, with the greatest gallantry and dash,
one of the three
companies of his regiment which charged a ridge held by the enemy, and
captured their position. The companies were then exposed to a most heavy
and galling fire from the right and left front. Lieutenant Masterson
undertook to give a message to the Imperial Light Horse, who were holding a
ridge some hundred yards behind, to fire to the left front and endeavour to
check the enemy's fire. In taking this message he crossed an open space of
a hundred yards which was swept by a most heavy cross-fire, and, although
badly wounded in both thighs, managed to crawl in and deliver his message
before falling exhausted into the Imperial Light Horse trench. His
unselfish heroism was undoubtedly the means of saving lives". In 1911 he
was promoted Major into the King's Own Royal Lancashire Regiment , and in
1912 he was placed on retired pay. It was a Sergeant Patrick Masterson of
the 87th who captured the first French Eagle taken during the Peninsular
War, and Major Masterson, VC, played his namesake's part in the Army pageant
of 1910 at Fulham Palace. He served in the European War in 1914 and 1915 as
Transport Officer. His favourite recreation was golf. Masterson
died at Waterlooville, Hampshire, on 24 December 1935. A tablet was
placed in Exeter Cathedral in his memory.
VC, Egypt (1) Tel el Kebir, IGS 1854 (1) Burma 1889-92, IGS 1895 (2) PF,
Tirah, QSA (2) Eland, DofL, Khedive Star.
