b. 10/04/1869 Glasgow, Scotland. d. 21/11/1917 France.
DATE OF AM ACTION: 24/02/1917 Carnoy-Montaubon Road, France.
William Neilson AM
Little is known about William other than he hailed from the Maryhill area of Glasgow, the son of Hugh and Annie Neilson (nee Steel). William enlisted wth 7 Cameronians for World War I, and was attached to the 10th Battalion, King’s Royal Rifle Corps. He died of his wounds on 21st November 1917 but his body was not recovered. He is commemorated on Panel 5 of the Cambrai Memorial to the Missing.
AM CITATION:
On the 24th February, 1917, Captain Neilson was superintending men of his company at grenade-throwing at a Brigade Grenade School in France. A man threw a grenade from a trench while Captain Neilson was standing out of the trench behind him. The man slipped in the mud, and the grenade fell in the trench, in which several other men were standing. Captain Neilson jumped down, picked up the grenade out of the mud, and threw it over the parapet. The grenade exploded just after leaving his hand, and wounded him slightly in several places. By his promptitude and courage he undoubtedly saved his men from injury. Captain Neilson died of wounds in November, 1917.
BURIAL LOCATION: CAMBRAI MEMORIAL, FRANCE. PANEL 5.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: UNKNOWN.
Acknowledgement:
Allan Stanistreet – Image of William Neilson AM.