Just Another Pair Of Socks

Melton District ANZACS

Neil Wilson CAMERON

Personal

Born: 1894

Birth registration: Victorian Births, Deaths & Marriages Registration No. 12460

Birthplace: Hawthorn, Victoria

Parents: Wilson & Charlotte Cameron

Awards and Honours

  • Military Medal
  • 1914-1915 Star
  • British War Medal 1914-20
  • Victory Medal

Battalions

4th Field Artillery Brigade, 11th Battery

Events

Enlistment

Regimental Service Number: 6539

Enlistment date: 24 June, 1915 Melbourne, Victoria

Age at enlistment: 21 years 4 months

Address at enlistment: Balgartine, Eaglemont , Heidelberg, Victoria

Religion: Presbyterian

Marital Status: Single

Next of kin: Father: Wilson Cameron, High Park, Kilmore

Physical Description: Height: 5 feet 10 1/2 inches
Weight: 11 Stones
Complexion: Fresh
Eyes: Blue/Grey
Hair: Dark Brown
Distinctive marks: Appendix scar, Moles on shoulders

Embarkation ship: HMAT A18 Wiltshire.

Rank: 24/06/1015 Gunner20/06/1918 Promoted Temp. Bombardier20/09/1918 Promoted Bombardier

Return Date: 17 February, 1919

Return Vessel: Runic.

Arrival at Australia: 27 April, 1919.

Discharge Date: 2 August, 1919

War Service Summary

21/09/1915 - 11th Battery 4th Field Artillery Brigade
15/12/1915 - Disembarked at Suez to join British Expeditionary Force
05/01/1916 - Sick: Enteritis, admitted to hospital, Ghezereh
21/01/1916 - Discharged to duty
19/02/1916 - Disembark Marseilles from Alexandria
28/10/1916 - Influenza
22/12/1916 - From the field; Sick again
01/01/1917 - Transferred to Military Hospital in England; problems with feet - Trench foot
24/07/1917 - To Rouelles, France, from England
11/08/1917 - Rejoined 4th F.A.B.
30/10/1917 - To hospital sick- Myalgia
03/11/1917 - Transferred from hospital to England; recurrent Trench Foot
12/04/1918 - Admitted to hospital sick
21/05/1918 - Back to France: 2nd Divisional Ammunition Column, 5th F.A.B.
20/06/1918 - Promoted to Temp/Bombardier

05/09/1918 - Awarded Military Medal
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty on the night 31st August/1st September 1918 at HERBECOURT near PERONNE. "This Non Commissioned Officer was in charge of the signal communications of his battery, the sections of which were acting independently. The positions were heavily shelled throughout the night and the maintenance of the lines extremely difficult and dangerous, but by his untiring efforts and great bravery he maintained communications throughout. He set a splendid example to all ranks." Signed: Major-General C. Rosenthal
(P. 14 Serv. Rec.)

20/09/1918 Promoted Bombardier
17/02/1919 - Marched out for return to Australia
17/06/1919 - awarded Military Medal
15/11/1919 - Notice to family of award of Military Medal (See 4th Supplement, No. 31405, London Gazette. Promulgated Commonwealth of Australia Gazette, No. 115, 10 October, 1919)

Other relevant information:
Neil later served in WWII in Palestine and Egypt
Ref Memoirs of Wilson Cameron
http://angus-cameron.squarespace.com/what-we-do/
viewed 23 June 2014

War Service Commemerated

Life After the War

Names of wife & children:
15/04/1925 Neil married Kathleen Gordon Brown (07/05/1899 03/11/1987) at Malvern Presbyterian Church.
Children:
John Gordon (b. 20/04/1926)
Neil Gordon (b. 04/12/1928)

Place/s of residence:
Pre 1919 Melton Property owner with brother
1924 Glenspean, Meredith
Malvern

Occupations: Clerk

Date of death:
Place of burial:

Additional Information

Evan Cameron and Neil Wilson Cameron are brothers who are both represented on the Melton Cenotaph.
They had 2 other brothers without connection to Melton who also enlisted in WW1:
Sergeant Major Colin Henry Cameron served at Gallipoli and was killed on 7 August 1915 in the charge by the 8th Light Horse on The Nek.
Alastair Cameron Served in WWI in France. He returned to Victoria and farmed at Hazelwynde", Beveridge. He married Ethel Jolly in January 1921.
Two younger brothers, Norman Alfred (b. 23/05/1897) and Malcolm Charles (b 23/11/1899) did not enlist in WW1.
Ref Memoirs of Wilson Cameron
http://angus-cameron.squarespace.com/what-we-do/
viewed 23 June 2014


Melton Express 13 Dec 1919 p3
The Cameron Brothers are leaving the district after selling their property.

Sources

Australian War Memorial
Service Record
Newspapers
Family historians