Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg, Driefontein (73100 Dr. T. [sic] Tagg, Q.B., R.H.A.) edge bruise, very fine £240-£280

James Tagg was born in Oxton, Nottinghamshire, in October 1871, and attested for the Royal Artillery in Newcastle-upon-Tyne on 4 May 1889. Posted to the 1st Brigade, Royal Field Artillery as a Driver, he transferred to “Q” Battery, Royal Horse Artillery, on 17 July 1894. He transferred to the Reserve on 20 May 1896, before being recalled to active service on 27 November 1899, and served as a Driver with ‘Q’ Battery in South Africa during the Boer War from 19 December 1899, being present at the action at Sanna’s Post on 31 March 1900.

Resulting from De Wet’s ambush of General Broadwood’s Brigade at Korn Spruit (Sanna’s Post), “Q” Battery, Royal Horse Artillery, behaved with great gallantry and managed to save four of its guns from an apparently hopeless situation. The conduct of the battery was praised by Brigadier-General Broadwood in his report on the action. As a result of this report, Lord Roberts took the unusual step of ordering the battery to ballot for the Victoria Cross, to choose one officer, one non-commissioned officer, one gunner and one driver to receive the coveted award, there being no fairer way to choose four from so many who performed with such heroism that day. As a result, Major Edmund John Phipps-Hornby, Sergeant Charles Edward Haydon Parker, Gunner Isaac Lodge, and Driver Horace Henry Glassock were each awarded the Victoria Cross. Driver James Tagg’s name would have been in the ballot for the Victoria Cross to the ‘Driver’.

Tagg returned to England on 19 August 1900, and was subsequently discharged.

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