Orders, Decorations and Medals

Captain N. C. G. Cameron, 1st Battalion, Cameron Highlanders, formerly Scottish Horse, who was killed in action at the Battle of the Aisne on 25 September 1914

1914 Star, with copy clasp (Lieut., Cam’n. Highrs.); Victory Medal 1914-19 (Capt.); together with two Cameron Highlanders badges, one of which is in silver and lacks the top half, the damage to the last possibly sustained in the explosion that killed Captain Cameron, generally good very fine or better (4) £300-350

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.