Date of birth: 1886-05-27
Place of birth: Dumfries Dumfriesshire Scotland
Next of kin: Jessie Spiers Tait, wife. 48 Thelma Apartments, Burnell Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba
Marital status: married
Occupation (attested): Civil Engineer
Occupation (normalized): Civil Engineer, General
Address:
19 Thelma Block, Burnell Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba
Religion: Presbyterian
Regimental number: NA
Rank detail- Lieutenant, 78th Battalion, Infantry (Army).
- Lieutenant (Army).
Degree of service: Europe
Survived war: no
Battle wounded/killed: The Wood South of Caix
AwardsVictoria Cross
Description: For most conspicuous bravery and initiative in attack. The advance having been checked by intense machine-gun fire. Lt. Tait rallied his company and led it forward with consummated skill and dash under a hail of bullets. A concealed machine-gun however, continued to cause many casualties. Taking a rifle and bayonet, Lt. Tait dashed forward alone and killed the enemy gunner. Inspired by his example his men rushed the position, capturing twelve machine-guns and twenty prisoners. His valorous action cleared the way for his Battalion (78th) to advance. Later, when the enemy counter-attacked our position under intense artillery bombardment, this gallant officer displayed outstanding courage and leadership, and though mortally wounded by a shell, continued to direct and aid his men until his death.
Date of award: 1918-09-27
Military Cross
CVWM ID: No CVWM ID in our database, but try
this.
Service file: B9488-S011
Uploader's Notes: Son of James Bryden Tait and Mary Tait (nee Johnstone) of Maxwelltown, Scotland; husband of Jessie Spiers Tait (nee Aitken) of 2440 El Camino Real, West Arcadia, California, U.S.A.
Uploader's Research notes: Parents married on July 14, 1882 at Laverock Hall, Lochmaben, Dumfries-shire, after Banns according to the Forms of the Established Church of Scotland [Lieutenant Army Canadian Infantry 100th Battalion Lieutenant Army Canadian Infantry 78th Battalion Victoria Cross For most conspicuous bravery and initiative in attack. The advance having been checked by intense machine-gun fire. Lt. Tait rallied his company and led it forward with consummated skill and dash under a hail of bullets. A concealed machine-gun however, continued to cause many casualties. Taking a rifle and bayonet, Lt. Tait dashed forward alone and killed the enemy gunner. Inspired by his example his men rushed the position, capturing twelve machine-guns and twenty prisoners. His valorous action cleared the way for his Battalion (78th) to advance. Later, when the enemy counter-attacked our position under intense artillery bombardment, this gallant officer displayed outstanding courage and leadership, and though mortally wounded by a shell, continued to direct and aid his men until his death. Military Cross ]
Date added: 2004-09-04
Last modified: 2022-03-30
