James Edward Ignatius Masterson
Lieutenant, 1st Battalion, Devonshire Regiment
- Register No.
- 843 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Lieutenant all Lieutenants →
- Unit
- 1st Battalion, Devonshire Regiment all Devonshire Regiment VCs →
- Date of action
- 6 January 1900 on this day → all of 1900 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Second Boer War
- London Gazette
- 4th June 1901 on this day → all of 1901 →
- Died
- 24th December 1935 at Waterlooville, Hampshire
- Memorial / grave
- on a tablet in Exeter Cathedral
Digest of citation
Lieutenant MASTERSON was commanding one of three companies of the Devonshire Regiment, at Wagon Hill, Ladysmith, South Africa, on 6th January 1900. They, under his command, charged a ridge and captured a position held by the Boers. All three companies were exposed to a devastating fire from both the Right and Left Front. Lieutenant MASTERSON took a message to the Imperial Light Horse, who were holding a position on the ridge some hundred yards to the rear, instructing them to fire on the left front in an endeavour to check the enemy's fire. Whilst taking the message, across an open and exposed space of 100 yards, and swept by an incessant crossfire, causing him to be badly wounded in both thighs, he still managed to crawl and deliver the message, falling exhausted into the trench of the Imperial Light Horse. His heroism, was almost certainly, the reason for many lives being saved
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
MASTERSON, James Edward Ignatius. (reg No. 843).
Lieutenant . 1st Battalion, Devonshire Regiment.
London Gazetted on 4th June 1901.. He was born on 20th June 1862 at a place unknown.
Died on 24th December 1935 at Waterlooville, Hampshire.
Memorial on a tablet in Exeter Cathedral.
Digest of Citation reads: Lieutenant MASTERSON was commanding one of three companies of the Devonshire Regiment, at Wagon Hill, Ladysmith, South Africa, on 6th January 1900. They, under his command, charged a ridge and captured a position held by the Boers. All three companies were exposed to a devastating fire from both the Right and Left Front. Lieutenant MASTERSON took a message to the Imperial Light Horse, who were holding a position on the ridge some hundred yards to the rear, instructing them to fire on the left front in an endeavour to check the enemy's fire. Whilst taking the message, across an open and exposed space of 100 yards, and swept by an incessant crossfire, causing him to be badly wounded in both thighs, he still managed to crawl and deliver the message, falling exhausted into the trench of the Imperial Light Horse. His heroism, was almost certainly, the reason for many lives being saved.
Additional information:. Major Masterson saw service in World War One (WW I) from 1914-15.
Additional information
Major Masterson saw service in World War One (WW I) from 1914-15.
He was born on 20th June 1862 at a place unknown.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: on a tablet in Exeter Cathedral
Map links open a search for the place name Alf recorded; please check opening times and exact locations before travelling. Many VC graves have since been restored by the Victoria Cross Trust.
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