Beschreibung:

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 Footnote 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