Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A superb Great War '1916' C.M.G., Boer War 'Magersfontein' subaltern's D.S.O. group of seven awarded to Colonel W. G. Neilson, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, who rescued a wounded man during the Battle of Modder River on 28 November 1899, and was himself wounded later in the same action. The following month Neilson again distinguished himself when he led a bayonet charge at Magersfontein on 11 December 1899, which cleared an advanced post of 60 men, killing or wounding half of them. Neilson was one of four brothers who all represented Scotland at Rugby

The Most Distinguished Order of Michael and St. George, C.M.G., Companion’s breast badge, converted for neck wear, silver-gilt and enamel, with neck riband; Distinguished Service Order, V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, with integral top riband bar; Queen's South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Modder River, Paardeberg, Transvaal (Lt. & Adjt: W. G. Neilson, D.S.O., A & S. Hgrs.) letter 'N' of surname officially corrected; King's South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps (Lt. & Adjt. W. G. Neilson. D.S.O. A & S. Hgrs.); 1914-15 Star (Capt. W. G. Neilson. D.S.O. A. & S. Hghrs.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Lt. Col. W. G. Neilson.) VM partially officially renamed, breast awards mounted Cavalry-Style as originally worn, reverse centre depressed and minor white enamel damage to CMG, otherwise generally good very fine (7) £4000-5000

Provenance: Taylor Collection, Christie’s, November 1990.

C.M.G. London Gazette 3 June 1916.

D.S.O. London Gazette 27 September 1901.

Walter Gordon Neilson was born at Thankerton House, Bothwell, Glasgow, in 1876, and was educated at Merchiston Castle School and Fettes College. In 1894 he was selected to play Rugby for Scotland against England at Edinburgh in the (then) Four Nations Championship, a match which Scotland won 6-0. 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 Boer 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 November 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 on 11 December 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. For his services in South Africa he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order and was twice Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazettes 10 September 1901 and 29 July 1902).

Neilson served as Adjutant with the regiment from 1902 until 1905. He was appointed Brigade Major, Lothian Infantry Brigade, Scottish Command in 1912. He served in the same capacity with 1/1st Lothian Infantry Brigade, Central Force, Home Defence, during the Great War from 5 August 1914 until 19 March 1915, before joining the 1st Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders at Ypres in March 1915. Posted as Brigade Major, 139th Infantry Brigade, he served in the French theatre of war from 1 June 1915 until 21 July 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. For his services in the Great War he was created a Companion of the Order of St. Michael and St. Geroge, was promoted Brevet Lieuteant-Colonel on 3 June 1918, and was four times Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazettes 1 January 1916, 15 June 1916, 4 January 1917, and 15 May 1917).

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, on 29 April 1927.

Sold together with various photographic images of the recipient and other research.