James Edward Ignatius Masterson

James Edward Ignatius Masterson VC (20 June 1862- 24 December 1935) was an Irish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Early career

Masterson entered the Royal Irish Fusiliers in 1881. He served in the 1882 Anglo-Egyptian War, including the Battle of Tel-el-Kebir. He was commissioned into the 2nd Devonshire Regiment in 1891. He served in Burma from 1891 to 1902 and the North-West Frontier of India from 1897 to 1898, He became captain in 1900.

Victoria Cross

He was 37 years old, and a lieutenant in the 1st Battalion, The Devonshire Regiment, British Army during the South African War (Boer War) when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 6 January, 1900, at Wagon Hill, Ladysmith, South Africa, Lt. Masterson was commanding one of the three companies of his regiment which captured a position held by the enemy. The companies were then exposed to very heavy fire from the right and left front, so the lieutenant undertook to get a message to the Imperial Light Horse, to fire to the left front in order to check the enemy's fire. To do this he had to cross an open space of 100 yards swept by heavy cross-fire, but although wounded in both thighs, he managed to deliver his message before falling, exhausted.

He transferred to the King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment as a Major in 1911 and retired in 1912. In 1914 he returned to the Army as a Deputy Director of Railway Transport.

He died at Waterlooville, Hampshire, England, on 24 December, 1935, aged 73.

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Military Museum of Devon and Dorset (Dorchester, Dorset, England).

References

*The Register of the Victoria Cross (1981, 1988 and 1997)
*The Irish Sword (Brian Clarke 1986)
*Irelands VCs ISBN 1-899243-00-3 (Dept of Economic Development 1995)
*Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
*Irish Winners of the Victoria Cross (Richard Doherty & David Truesdale, 2000)

External links

* [http://www.homeusers.prestel.co.uk/stewart/hampshir.htm Location of grave and VC medal] "(Hampshire)"