Queen's South Africa Medal : Captain J G Legge, New South Wales Mounted Rifles

Queen's South Africa Medal with the clasps 'WITTEBERGEN', 'DIAMOND HILL', 'JOHANESBURG' and 'CAPE COLONY'. Impressed edge with recipient's details.

James Gordon Legge was born in London in 1863 and emigrated with his family to Australia in 1878. Legge’s long association with the military began while he was studying for his law degree at the University of Sydney in 1885 when he was commissioned an officer with the 3rd NSW Infantry Regiment. Graduating in 1890 he abandoned his law career in favour of a permanent position as a captain with the NSW Military Forces in 1894.

On 4 November 1899 Legge embarked on the 'Aberdeen' for service in the Boer War, commanding the New South Wales Infantry Company, the only infantry contingent despatched from New South Wales. Shortly after arriving in Cape Town on 6 December, the company was incorporated into The Australian Regiment, formed in South Africa the previous month and comprising contingents from Victoria, New South Wales, Western Australia and Tasmania. On 1 February 1900 the company was converted to Mounted Rifles using Indian remounts and later became 'E' Squadron of the New South Wales Mounted Rifles (NSWMR). Legge relinquished command of the squadron and became adjutant of the NSWMR.

During the period to November 1900 Legge's contingent took part in a number of significant actions including the Relief of Colesberg, the advance on Bloemfontein in March and April, the Battle of Zand River and the capture of Venterburg in May, the Battle of Diamond Hill in June and the relief of the Elands River Post in August.

He decided to remain in South Africa following the return of his company to Australia in late 1900 and took up a post as intelligence officer to Colonel De Lisle’s Column. De Lisle had reportedly written, notes Legge biographer Chris Coulthard-Clark, that he was 'the most intrepid intelligence officer that I have ever been associated with.' Legge returned to Australia via Britain in October 1902.

Legge went on to have a distinguished, if at times troubled, military career. He was instrumental in the development of the compulsory military training scheme, commanded the 1st Australian Division following the death of Major General Sir William Bridges on Gallipoli during the First World War, before raising the 2nd Australian Division and serving in France. After the war he was appointed commandant of the Royal Military College, Duntroon. He was eventually retired with the honorary rank of lieutenant-general in January 1924.

He died in Melbourne on 18 September 1947 and was buried in a private ceremony at the New Cheltenham cemetery.