On the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, Scott-Taggart enlisted with the 2nd and 4th Seaforth Highlanders even though he had not yet reached the 18 years of age required by the army at that time.

Transferred to the Corps of the Royal Engineers in 1917, he worked in the Research Station under Major Rupert Stanley, before receiving his commission and being deployed to a Canadian field gun battery where he participated in the Battle of Vimy Ridge.

Notwithstanding being on active service, Scott-Taggart wrote several of the countless technical articles he would produce during his life whilst serving on the Western Front, the first being published in Wireless World in October 1917.

He spent the next four years first learning to fly, then lived life as something a gentleman aviator developing skills that he was able to use in the service of his country during the Second World War.

In 1932 he returned to wireless journalism[12] when he was engaged by Amalgamated Press to work on their stable of magazines for the radio constructor, including two of those he had originally launched.