Miscellaneous 774
The Memorial Plaque to Captain N. C. G. Cameron, 1st Battalion, Cameron Highlanders, late Strathcona’s Horse and Scottish Horse - with whom he was wounded during the Second Boer War, and mentioned in despatches. Cameron was killed in action serving with the Highlanders during the Battle of the Aisne, 25 September 1914
Memorial Plaque (Napier Charles Gordon Cameron) in card envelope of issue, nearly very fine £200-£300
The following is extracted from The Bond of Sacrifice, Volume I: ‘Captain Napier Charles Gordon Cameron, 1st Battalion, The Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders, was born at Gibraltar on the 14th December 1876, being the son of the late General Sir William Gordon Cameron, G.C.B., of Nea House, Christchurch, Hampshire, who served in the Crimea.
Captain Cameron began his military career by joining Strathcona’s Horse in 1900; in the following year he received a commission in the Scottish Horse and served with them during the remainder of the South African War, in which he was wounded [at Moedewil on 30 September 1901]. For his services he was mentioned in despatches and received the Queen’s medal with four clasps. In June 1902, he was gazetted to the Northumberland Fusiliers, and when the battalion was disbanded in 1908, obtained a commission in the 1st Battalion, Cameron Highlanders as a Lieutenant.
With this battalion he served in the Great War, being promoted Captain in September 1914. On the 14th of that month he was reported wounded and missing, but rejoined his regiment after two days. On this occasion he owed his escape from capture by the Germans by feigning death, and lay for some time on the ground while German soldiers cut off his belt and removed his claymore and revolver. Later on, while waiting till darkness to return to the regiment, with some private soldiers, they heard an officer of the Black Watch calling for help, and Captain Cameron with a private in the Camerons went out and brought him in under heavy fire.
He was killed in action at the Battle of the Aisne on 25 September 1914.’
His death is described in the Battalion War Diary thus: ‘September 25th [1915]: Position very heavily shelled 7:15 to 12 noon. At 7:30 Headquarters cave fell in by being struck by a German shell, entombing Battalion Staff, consisting of Captain Miers, Captain N. G. Cameron and Lieutenant Meiklejohn.’
There is a brass plaque to his his memory in Christchurch Priory, Dorset. Captain Cameron’s 1914 Star and Victory Medal were sold in these rooms as lot 754, 13 December 2007.
775
An important Memorial Plaque to Lieutenant W. G. R. Smith, 21st Divisional Cyclist Company, Army Cyclist Corps, who served as an ambulance driver with his sister Grace McDougall as one of the first FANYS to serve in the French theatre of war from October 1914. He was later commissioned and transferred for service with the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry and the Army Cyclist Corps - being killed in action trying to rescue a wounded comrade on the Western Front, 26 January 1916
Memorial Plaque (William George Rae Smith) very fine £400-£500
William George Rae Smith was born in Aberdeen in July 1889. He was the son of Charles Smith, a merchant grocer, and was educated at Aberdeen Grammar School and Aberdeen University. Having studied agriculture at the latter, Smith travelled to New Zealand where he was employed in sheep farming, and trading in New Guinea and the South Sea Islands. He also led a small expedition through Patagonia, his report of which was published in the Magazine of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society.
Smith then undertook stock farming in Rhodesia, and was a member of the Legion of Frontiersmen. He acted for a time as Commandant for Scotland, and raised companies of the legion in Aberdeen and Edinburgh. Smith was still in Rhodesia at the outbreak of the Great War, and he ‘came home to enlist. He first joined a New Zealand Corps, but transferred to the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry, and drove an ambulance on the Belgian front for three months. In January, 1915, he joined the Royal Horse Artillery, but very shortly after he was gazetted to a commission in the 10th King’s Own (Yorkshire Light Infantry). In due course he was transferred to the 21st Divisional Cyclists, and in September he went to France.
Early in January a spell on leave was due to him, but instead of taking it he wrote home: “Everyone says I’m a fool to put off my leave, but what’s the good of leave if you haven’t done something worth while? If I come through this (a scheme which he had evolved) it may mean a Military Cross.” Lieut. Smith met his death while saving a wounded comrade. Born in Aberdeen 26 years ago, he leaves a widow and two children. His brother, who was an officer in the 3rd Dragoon Guards, died of wounds last May.’ (Evening Post, 28 March 1916 refers)
Smith was the brother of Grace Alexandra Smith, or Grace McDougall as she was to become know after marriage. The latter being credited with reinventing the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry - she raised money for an ambulance, and the first six FANYS left for France, 27 October 1914. The six comprised of 3 nurses, 2 orderly’s and Smith as the ambulance driver.
Having been commissioned in February 1915, it was with the 21st Divisional Cyclist Company, Army Cyclist Corps that Smith was killed in action on the Western Front, 26 (also recorded as the 25th) January 1916 (some sources record him as being recommended for a V.C., and as being M.I.D.). Lieutenant Smith is buried in the Cite Bonjean Military Cemetery, Armentieres, France.
Sold with copied research, including a photographic image of recipient in uniform.
776
Canadian Memorial Cross, G.V.R. (739138 Pte A. Q. Noall.) in case of issue, with damaged card enclosure, good very fine
£80-£120
Alfred Quick Noall was born in February 1895, and was the son of Mr and Mrs A. Q. Noall of Chapel Street, St. Ives, Cornwall. His father worked for the Coast Guard at St. Agnes, near Scorrier, Cornwall. Noall attested for the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force, 3 May 1916. He served with the 4th Battalion, Canadian Infantry (1st Central Ontario Regiment ) in the French theatre of war from April 1917, and was killed in action on the Western Front, 12 September 1917.
Private Noall is buried in the Aix-Noulette Communal Cemetery Extension, France. He is commemorated on the Roll of Honour in St. Ives Parish Church, and on the War Memorial there.
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