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Auction: 15003 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals and Militaria
Lot: 1

A Superb Great War '1916' C.M.G., Boer War 'Magersfontein' Subaltern's D.S.O. Group of Seven to Colonel W.G. Neilson, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, Who Rescued a Wounded Man During the Battle of Modder River, 28.11.1899, And Was Wounded Himself Later in the Same Action. He Again Distinguished Himself When He Led a Bayonet Charge at Magersfontein, 11.12.1899, Which Cleared an Advanced Post of 60 Men, Killing or Wounding Half Their Number. Neilson Was One of Four Brothers Who All Represented Scotland at Rugby
a) The Most Distinguished Order of Michael and St. George, Companion's (C.M.G.) breast Badge, converted for neck wear, silver-gilt and enamel, reverse centre depressed, minor white enamel damage, with neck riband
b) Distinguished Service Order, V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, with integral top riband bar
c) Queen's South Africa 1899-1902, three clasps, Modder River, Paardeberg, Transvaal (Lt. & Adjt: W.G. Neilson, D.S.O., A & S. Hgrs.), letter 'N' of surname officially corrected
d) King's South Africa 1901-02, two clasps (Lt. & Adjt. W.G. Neilson. D.S.O. A & S. Hgrs.)
e) 1914-15 Star (Capt. W.G. Neilson. D.S.O. A. & S. Hghrs.)
f) British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. Oak Leaves (Lt. Col. W.G. Neilson.), last partially officially renamed, generally good very fine, breast awards mounted Cavalry-Style as originally worn (7)

C.M.G. London Gazette 3.6.1916 Maj. Walter Gordon Neilson, D.S.O., Arg. & Suth'd Highrs.

D.S.O. London Gazette 27.9.1901 Lieutenant Walter Gordon Neilson, Princess Louise's (Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders)
'In recognition of services during the operations in South Africa.'

Colonel Walter Gordon Neilson, C.M.G., D.S.O. (1876-1927) was born at Thankerton House, Bothwell, Glasgow. He was educated at Merchiston Castle School and Fettes College. Neilson gained a Rugby Cap for Scotland, against England in 1894. He was still at school when he was called up, 'in the 1890's, four brothers - the Neilsons - from Merchiston Castle School were all capped by Scotland. Both Walter and William made their debuts at the age of 17 years and five months; whereas George had to wait until he was 20 and Robert 19.'

Neilson was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in 1897. He served with distinction during the war in South Africa, 1899-1902. He was present during the advance on Kimberley, and the regimental history records his part in the Battle of Modder River, 28.11.1899, 'At the battle of Modder River, about midday, a man of "G" Company, lying in advance of the general line, was badly wounded, bleeding to death, and unable to crawl back to a small depression in the ground, where Captain Shanahan, R.A.M.C., was attending to the wounded. 2nd Lieut. Neilson seeing this ran out and carried the man to the medical officer, thus saving his life. On returning to the firing line 2nd Lieut. Neilson was shot through the arm....

The total casualties during the day were Lieutenant Baker-Carr and 2nd Lieut. Neilson wounded, and 19 non-commissioned officers and men killed and 101 wounded, of whom 11 subsequently died of wounds, not to mention various slight wounds which did not necessitate men leaving the ranks, making a total of 122 casualties out of 478 for the whole force engaged.' (History of the 91st Argyllshire Highlanders, R.P. Dunn Pattison refers)

It was at Magersfontein, 11.12.1899, when Neilson's leadership came to the fore, 'It seems that Colonel Goff was almost killed at the first discharge. The command therefore devolved on Major Wolrige-Gordon. He went back to where the mass of the battalion had rallied and shaken out into open order. Wolrige-Gordon at once ordered an advance; the right of the line was entrusted to 2nd Lieut. Neilson. Very soon after this, about 4.30, the guns opened fire and relieved the strain on the brigade. Neilson, who had most of his own company well in hand, and a mixture of men from the other battalions of the brigade, kept bearing away to the right. Soon he came under a very heavy fire from the mimosa and scrub on his right flank. This fire came from the outpost of Scandinavians, who were stationed there to cover the gap between the trenches on Magersfontein Hill and the underfeature. Neilson at once developed an attack on this position, and after some considerable time, about 6am, he got to within charging distance. He then gave the word, and, aided by mixed detachments under 2nd Lieuts. Sceales, King, and Lang who had joined him sometime before, either captured or bayoneted the whole detachment....' (Ibid).

Neilson's account of the action included in the regimental history adds the following:

'Major Gordon came along to my end of the line and said that he was going to advance, and that I was to take command of the right of the line. I did so, and we had not gone far before we were subjected to a very heavy fire from our right flank, where mimosa and scrub were growing. I made my part of the line change direction and we made for this fire: very soon I could discern men retiring and lying behind bushes. Against these bushes fire was directed, and we gradually closed and finally charged, and what was left of these Scandinavians (for it turned out to be the advanced post of Scandinavians, some 60 or 70), held up (each) a little white flag. It was impossible to stop the bayonet being used in all cases, as these fellows had fired on us up to the last; but the men were very good, and gave quarter in almost every case. We found that we had made sore havoc of this post. Behind one bush I counted six dead. The wounded were scattered about, the uninjured we collected, some 25 or 30, and I sent them back under an escort.... I found the officer in command of this post mortally wounded through the body.'

Neilson also took part in the action at Koodoosberg, the battles of Paardeburg and Poplar Grove, and the actions at Waternal, Houtnek, Bloemberg, Roodeport and Heilbron. He served under Major General Hamilton during the operations in the Transvaal and was present during the actions at De Wagen Drift, Zilikats Nek and Olifant's Nek (D.S.O.; M.I.D. London Gazette 10.9.1901 and 29.7.1902).

Neilson served as Adjutant with the regiment, 1902-05. He was appointed Brigade Major, Lothian Infantry Brigade, Scottish Command in 1912. Neilson served in the same capacity with 1/1st Lothian Infantry Brigade, Central Force, Home Defence, 5.8.1914-19.3.1915. He joined the 1st Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders at Ypres, March 1915. Neilson was posted as Brigade Major, 139th Infantry Brigade, and served in the French theatre of war, 1.6.1915-21.7.1916. For the remainder of the war he served in a number of Staff positions on the Western Front including with the 34th Division, the 15th Army Corps, the 63rd Division and Headquarters 4th Army (C.M.G.; M.I.D. London Gazette 1.1.1916, 15.6.1916, 4.1.1917 and 15.5.1917; Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel 3.6.1918).

Neilson was appointed to the command of the 2nd Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, Aldershot, in 1922. He held this command until his death, as a result of a riding accident, 29.4.1927.

Provenance: Taylor Collection, Christie, November 1990

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