More about Frank Kenny Neilson

Frank listed his brother James as his next of kin when he enlisted. He was severely wounded by shellfire on 1st January 1916, receiving shrapnel to the head and face. He was evacuated from the field and back to England. Due to the severity of his injuries he spent many months in and out of hospital including the eye and ear hospital at Folkstone. Once back in action he was awarded the Military Medal for bravery in the field.

M.M. Citation ” For persistent good services under all conditions since the Regiment arrived in France. This N.C.O. has at all times set a splendid example to the men in the Ypres salient particularly on April 4th to 7th 1916.”

He was made a Lieutenant on February 25th, 1917. He continued with his battalion until he was killed by an enemy shell.

Frank Neilson  M.M.  Royal Montreal Regiment

Company C.-M.-S. Frank Neilson a Dundee lad, has been awarded the Military Medal for distinction in the field.  At the outbreak of war Neilson joined a battalion of the Royal Montreal Regiment, and went to France with the first Canadian contingent early in 1915.  He was in a lot of the fighting in Flanders, and was injured by shrapnel on the first day of this year.

Frank was well known in athletic circles in the city.  He was a member of the old Criaghall cricket and football clubs, and played regularly, and later was an enthusiastic secretary of the second string of Victoria C.C.  He was also connected with several musical societies, and before he left the city for Canada was a member of the local Operatic Society, and of the choir of St Enoch’s Parish Church.

Dundee Evening Telegraph 17th October 1916

For more information on Frank, visit, Frank’s Memorial also Frank’s Service Record and Circumstances of Death Register

There are also references to Frank in the local Dundee Newspapers available in Dundee Central Library

Advertiser 23/05/1915 page 3, 17/10/1916 page 3 and 16/08/1918 page 4

Courier 16/08/1918 page 2, Evening Telegraph 17/10/1916 page 2, and Peoples Journal 18/08/1918 page 8.

For reasons unknown Frank Neilson is not included on the original Dundee City Roll of Honour