James Edward Ignatius Masterson
James Masterson | |
|---|---|
| Born | 20 June 1862 Birr, County Offaly, Ireland |
| Died | 24 December 1935 (aged 73) |
| Buried | Hulbert Road Cemetery, Waterlooville |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Branch | British Army |
| Service years | 1881 – 1912, 1914 – 1919 |
| Rank | Major |
| Unit | Royal Irish Fusiliers Devonshire Regiment King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment |
| Conflicts | 1882 Anglo-Egyptian War Burma 1889–92 Tirah Campaign Second Boer War World War I |
| Awards | Victoria Cross Egypt Medal India General Service Medal (1854) India Medal Queen's South Africa Medal Khedive's Star |
Major James Edward Ignatius Masterson VC (20 June 1862 – 24 December 1935) was an Irish recipient of the Victoria Cross.
He was born into a military family, enlisted in the ranks in 1881, was commissioned ten years later, and served for a further twenty one years, retiring with the field rank of Major in 1912. He reenlisted in 1914, but failed his medical for overseas service, so was employed in an administrative capacity on the Embarkation & Transport staff, for the duration of the First World War.
Whilst he was of Irish descent, it was purely circumstantial that his father was posted to Ireland at the time of his birth. His father, born in Portsmouth, returned to his home town in his latter years, and Masterson latterly resided in Waterlooville for over 30 years.