HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News Record, 2016-05-18, Page 88 News Record • Wednesday, May 18, 2016
Major William McTaggart, Distinguished Service Order
In September 2013, Major
W. B. McTaggart's Great
War medals were sold ata Brit-
ish auction house. The medal
set sold for £ 2900 ($5292
CDN), but their monetary
value fails to convey their true
cost. Amongst the four medals
for sale was McTaggart's Distin-
guished Service Order one of
the highest awards for valour in
the British Empire. Major
McTaggart paid for his DSO
with his life's blood.
William Broder McTaggart
was born on Apri119, 1893 in
Huron History
Dave Yates
Clinton. He was eldest of four
children bom to George and
Nettie McTaggart. His father
was a local bank manager. The
families was a devoutlyPresby-
terian one who valued educa-
tion. After studying at Clinton
Collegiate Institute, 'Bill'
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We ask that you pass this invite, onto your children as well.
McTaggart and his younger
brother, George, were sent to St
Andrew's College in 1908 to
complete their secondary
education.
In 1910, McTaggart enrolled
as a Gentleman Cadet at the
Royal Military College in King-
ston. McTaggartwas an enthu-
siastic soldier. He graduated in
1913 with honours and eamed
the Duke of Connaught's Gold
Medal. He took science classes
at McGill University that fall. In
November 1913, it was
announced that McTaggart
had been commissioned a
lieutenant in the newly formed
31st battery, Canadian Field
Artillery which was to be head-
quartered in Goderich.
At the outbreak of the Great
War in August 1914, Lieutenant
McTaggart answered the first
call for volunteers. On Febru-
ary 9, 1915, he was in the first
contingent of Canadians to see
action in France. He distin-
guished himself as an officer
with the 12th battery, 3rd
brigade through 1915. Despite
being wounded in October
1915, McTaggart remained on
dutywith his guns.
After a second wound in
November, McTaggart was
made an aide-de-camp to
General Henry Burstall, the
Canadian Artillery com-
mander in December. He
was promoted to captain in
February 1916 and served as
an Intelligence Officer. In
May 1916, just three months
after his promotion to cap-
tain, McTaggart returned to
combat duty with the rank of
major to take command of
the 12th battery. Major
McTaggart's battery of six
guns was heavily engaged in
the Somme battles through-
out the summer of 1916.
In 1917, Major McTaggart
eamed 'a brace' of Mentioned
in Dispatches twice for meri-
torious service. At Passchen-
daele on November 1, McTag-
gart received a serious
gunshot wound to the leg. He
Contributed photo
Major William Broder
McTaggart, DSO.
was evacuated to England to
recuperate.
While in hospital, he
leamed through the 'London
Gazette' (January 1, 1918) that
he had been awarded the Dis-
tinguished Service Order. His
citation read, in part, that 'on
the afternoon of 3 May 1917,
after the taking of Fresnoy,
this officer's batterywas
under heavy shellfire for three
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11 Victoria St. Clinton, ON NOM 1L0
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hours. Two of his guns were
put out of action by direct hits
and detachments killed or
wounded. He increased his
rate of fire with the remaining
guns of his battery and car-
ried on until our infantry had
consolidated. On the after-
noon of 13 May 1917, his bat-
terywas again very heavily
shelled. One shell hit the dug-
out and buried him and one
of his subalterns for four
hours. On being released, he
immediately started to dig out
two of his men who had also
been buried. His gallantry on
many occasions has been
most conspicuous and his
ability as a Battery Com-
mander is 'beyond
praise The DSO was second
in importance only to the Vic-
toria Cross. The Clinton News
Record reported that 'friends
of the family offer hearty con-
gratulations and Clinton is
proud of its brave son.'
Courage was a genetic trait
as the DSO was the second
decoration for gallantry in the
family. McTaggart's younger
brother, Lieutenant George
McTaggart, eamed a Military
Cross serving with the Royal
Engineers in Italy. The
younger McTaggart had
maintained a bridge which
spanned a water crossing that
had twice been destroyed by
artillery fire. "With shells fall-
ing all around, Lieut. McTag-
gart made repairs while
swimming with a rope
around his waist.
Major McTaggart was
granted a furlough to return
home to Clinton for a brief
visit. It was headline news
when 'Major Broder McTag-
gart DSO' arrived in Clinton
by train on February 11,
1918. The Kilty Pipeband, a
reception committee and a
large number of local citizens
gave McTaggart a hero's wel-
come at the train station.
CONTINUED > PAGE 11
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