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Auction: 19003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 332

(x) A fine 'Mesopotamia' Military Division O.B.E. group of seven awarded to Captain R. B. Neilson, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, late Royal Naval Division, who was thrice 'mentioned' and served as A.D.C. to the General Officer Commanding the Mesopotamian Expeditionary Force from 1917-1918

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) Officer's 2nd type breast Badge, silver-gilt; 1914-15 Star (2. Lieut. R. B. S. Neilson. A. & S. Highrs.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Capt. R. B. S. Neilson.); Defence Medal 1939-45; Special Constabulary Long Service Medal, G.VI.R. (Ronald B. S. Neilson); France, Republic Croix de Guerre 1914-18, with palm, mounted court-style, the Great War awards sometime lacquered, very fine and better (7)

O.B.E. London Gazette 3 March 1919:

'For valuable service rendered in connection with Military Operations in Mesopotamia'.

French Croix de Guerre London Gazette 7 June 1919.

Ronald Braco Stenhouse Neilson was born on 22 September 1892 at Braco Castle, Ardoch, Perthshire, the son of John Neilson, an iron merchant of 16 Park Circus, Glasgow. He was educated at Harrow School from the Easter Term 1907, boarding at Mr Moss's House and following in the footsteps of his elder brother John Beaumont - who left in 1902 and became a chartered accountant in Glasgow, later Lieutenant-Colonel Commanding the 1/5th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry. Having represented the school in the Football XI, Neilson left Harrow in 1909 and worked in Glasgow as a ship broker.

Neilson attested for the Royal Naval Division as a Seaman on 7 September 1914, being posted to Benbow Battalion. On 26 December 1914 he applied for a commission in the 3rd Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, this being granted on 7 January 1915. He was subsequently posted overseas to Salonika and promoted Lieutenant on 19 November 1915. Furthermore he was thence appointed Aide-de-Camp to Major General Sir William Raine Marshall, Officer Commanding 27th Division, on 27 June 1916.

Neilson departed Salonika on 16 September 1916 aboard Bohemian bound for Alexandria. He was promoted Captain on 5 September 1916 and travelled via Port Said to Bombay. Tranferred to Basrah via the troopship Akbar, he was appointed Aide-de-Camp to the Corps Commander of the 3rd Indian Army Corps on 23 October 1916 and later served for a second time as Aide-de-Camp to Major General Sir William Raine Marshall from 22 November 1917 following the untimely death of Lieutenant General Sir Stanley Maude at Basra aged 53 from cholera. Three times mentioned in despatches for services in Mesopotamia (London Gazettes 12 March 1918, 27 August 1918 & 30 April 1919, refer), Neilson proceeded home on leave to England on 25 December 1918 aboard the troopship Egra and relinquished his commission on 1 April 1920. He died at Winchester on 21 December 1961; sold with copied research and service records.


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Sold for
£380

Starting price
£130