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Hello Mike and Neville,

I recently purchased this previously unrecorded Town of Westmount Welcome Home Medal from eMedals in Burlington, Ontario. It is named to J.W. MacTaggart, who was one of the first group of recipients. MacTaggart, a member of F Company, 2nd (Special Service) Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment, earned the Queen's South Africa Medal with clasps 'Cape Colony' and 'Paardeberg'. I have not recorded the latter medal as being extant, but would be happy to hear of any sightings! MacTaggart was taken prisoner by the Boers at Poplar Grove in early March 1900, but managed to escape when his captors were sleeping; they had taken his boots and socks away, so he walked barefoot for four days and nights to reach safety, and was invalided back to England after spending some time in hospital. I have attached a couple of images of his medal; it is slightly damaged at the crown, has some wear to the reverse, and has some missing enamel, but is otherwise in good shape.



Hope this post helps with updating the page for this tribute medal here on the forum.

Kind regards,

Jim

Hello Jim,

Great to see another example has surfaced. Database updated accordingly.

SEE: Westmount Tribute Medal

Nearly every example I have seen has had substantial enamel loss, so your medal is in good condition for the type.

Neville

p.s. Good to come across someone with an interest in the Vimy Ridge operations. My great grandfather was Chief Engineer for the Vimy Sector.

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