William Neilson likeness

William Neilson cap badgePrivate William Neilson

5th (Service) Battalion Cameron Highlanders "C" Company
Service No: S/12009

William Neilson grave

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Click here for a frameable A4 print
Personal details

Family Information

Son of Alexander and Christina Neilson of "Ardvohr", 66 Muiryhall St, Coatbridge. William had 3 brothers also serving, Signaller Mark Neilson of the Royal Naval Reserve and Private George Neilson of the 17th (Service) Battalion (3rd Glasgow) Highland Light Infantry who survived the Battle of the Somme without a scratch before returning home in 1917 and after Officer training received a Commission in the King's Royal Rifles. As a 2nd Lieutenant George was awarded the Military Cross in 1918. Both brothers survived the war however Lance Corporal Alexander Neilson (265742) of the 1/6th (Perthshire) Battalion Black Watch died at home after a brief illness on the 07/10/1918 and is buried in New Monkland Cemetery (D.94). He is NOT listed on the Coatbridge Memorial. From the 1891 Census - Address - 25 Portland St, Coatbridge - Alexander Neilson aged 32, Christina Neilson aged 33, Alexander Neilson aged 6, Richard Neilson aged 5, William Neilson aged 3, servant Rebecca Clark aged 16. From the 1901 Census - Address - 66 Muiryhall St, Coatbridge - Alexander Neilson aged 42, Christina Neilson aged 42, Alexander Neilson aged 16, Richard S Neilson aged 15, William Neilson aged 13, Jeanie Neilson aged 9, May Neilson aged 7, Mark Neilson aged 6, George Neilson aged 4, Christina Neilson aged 2, servants Jeanie Laird aged 27, Marion Baker aged 17. William and Alexander's Pension were awarded to their father Alexander.

Born / Resided

Coatbridge /

Died

Killed in Action on the 25/09/1915 on the opening day of the Battle of Loos

Enlisted

Swansea 1914

Employed

Clerk in the Scottish Tube Works

Age

27

Buried / Remembered

Loos Memorial (Panel 119 to 124), Pas de Calais, France

Cemetery / Memorial Information

The Loos Memorial commemorates over 20,000 officers and men who have no known grave, who fell in the area from the River Lys to the old southern boundary of the First Army, east and west of Grenay, from the first day of the Battle of Loos to the end of the war. On either side of the cemetery is a wall 15 feet high, to which are fixed tablets on which are carved the names of those commemorated. At the back are four small circular courts, open to the sky, in which the lines of tablets are continued, and between these courts are three semicircular walls or apses, two of which carry tablets, while on the centre apse is erected the Cross of Sacrifice.

Additional Information

William and the Battalion arrived at Boulogne on the 10/05/1915 and were part of the 26th Brigade, 9th (Scottish) Division. The Battle of Loos, 25th September - 15th October 1915 : The first genuinely large scale British offensive action but once again only in a supporting role to a larger French attack in the Third Battle of Artois. British appeals that the ground over which they were being called upon to advance was wholly unsuitable were rejected. The battle is historically noteworthy for the first British use of poison gas. The opening day of the Battle of Loos on the 25/09/1915 : 07.00 - 5th Camerons suffered from crossfire from Mad Point (just outside Auchy on the road from Vermelles), but pushed on to Little Willie Trench, the front face of the redoubt, and Fosse Trench which they reached by 7.10am. By 7.45am they joined the Seaforths in Corons Trench. Auchy area: The attack of 9th (Scottish) Division had by mid-morning succeeded in reaching and occupying the enemy trench network around the Hohenzollern Redoubt and Fosse 8, and also Pekin Trench. The situation at noon - The 47th and 15th Divisions had captured Loos, although they had been halted and were threatened by counterattack on Hill 70. There were clear signs of German withdrawal in this area and panic in Lens. 7th Division was on the outskirts of Hulluch, and the 9th (Scottish) Division were working their way forward at the Hohenzollern Redoubt and Fosse 8. Scottish Regiments lost a huge amount of brave men at Loos. Here is a list of Infantry Battalions who lost more than 500 men at the Battle of Loos from 25/09/1915 to 16/10/1915 - 7th Cameron Highlanders 687, of which 19 Officers, 9th Black Watch 680, of which 20 Officers, 6th King's Own Scottish Borderers 650, of which 20 Officers, 10th Highland Light Infantry 648, of which 20 Officers, 7th King's Own Scottish Borderers 631, of which 20 Officers, 8th Devons 619, of which 19 Officers, 8th Royal West Kents 580, of which 24 Officers, 8th Buffs 558, of which 24 Officers, 12th Highland Light Infantry 553, of which 23 Officers, 8th Black Watch 511, of which 19 Officers, 5th North Staffordshire 505, of which 20 Officers, 8th Seaforth Highlanders 502, of which 23 Officers. William was another of the many men from the Memorial Killed in Action on the opening day of the Battle of Loos. He was 1 of 99 men from the Coatbridge Memorial who fell during and from injuries from the Battle of Loos. William was a prominent batsman with the Drumpellier Cricket Club. In his last match on the 04/07/1914 he scored 101 not out. He is also remembered on the Coatbridge Technical College, Drumpellier Cricket Club (with his 2 brothers) and Coats Parish Churches Rolls of Honour and at the Family Plot in New Monkland Cemetery x 2 (see photos). See photos for William's Medal Index Card, his Newspaper clippings x 3, his name on the Loos Memorial, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Service Medal and Award Rolls x 2, his CWGC Grave Registration, his name on the Loos Memorial Panel List, William's (and brother Alexander's) Pension Records x 3 and the Cameron Highlanders Cap Badge. Finally see photos for William's brother Alexander's CWGC Grave Registration, his Headstone Report, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, the Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) Cap Badge, his mention in the Reverend Samuel Lindsay's 1919 book and Alexander's Scotland National Probate Index 1919.

Photos
William Neilson Medal Index CardWilliam Neilson newspaper clippingWilliam Neilson newspaper clippingWilliam Neilson newspaper clippingWilliam Neilson remembered at homeWilliam Neilson remembered at homeWilliam Neilson remembered at homeWilliam Neilson remembered at homeWilliam Neilson additional photoWilliam Neilson additional photoWilliam Neilson additional photoWilliam Neilson additional photoWilliam Neilson additional photoWilliam Neilson additional photoWilliam Neilson additional photoWilliam Neilson additional photoWilliam Neilson additional photoWilliam Neilson additional photoWilliam Neilson additional photoWilliam Neilson additional photoWilliam Neilson additional photoWilliam Neilson additional photoWilliam Neilson additional photoWilliam Neilson additional photoWilliam Neilson additional photo

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