Neville John Gordon Cameron was born in Southsea, Hampshire on 9 Oct 1873, the third son of Sir William Gordon Cameron who in 1884 was Commander of Troops in China, Hong Kong and the Straits Settlements. Neville was educated at Wellington College, and after Sandhurst was commissioned in Dec 1892 into The Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders. He served in the Sudan at Atbara and Khartoum, and in the Boer War, during which he was attached to Damant’s Horse. In the First World War he went to France as Assistant Adjutant and QMG in the 1st Division. He was then a General Staff Officer with Scottish Command and later the 34th Division.
He was involved in the fighting on the Somme in 1916, commanding the 103rd Brigade. He was badly wounded and his brigade lost many casualties. When he recovered he commanded 151st Brigade in the 50th Division in Sept 1916, and in that year was appointed CMG, and was then appointed General Officer Commanding 49th West Riding Infantry Division in Oct 1917. He was in command through all the major battles of the Lys Offensive in April 1918 and in the Hundred Days Offensive in late 1918. He was appointed CB in 1918. He was given more brigade commands after the war and from 1926, once more commanded the 49th West Riding Division. He was ADC to the King in 1920, and appointed Colonel of his old regiment, the QO Cameron Highlanders on 28 May 1929, until 8 Oct 1943. He was also Honorary Colonel of the 16th Battalion (Cameron Highlanders of Western Australia) from 1938 to 1945.
On 15 July 1915 he married Joan Newbiggin and they had four children, three daughters and a son, William Neville Cameron, who was killed in action in Italy in 1944. Major General Neville Cameron died on 5 Dec 1955 at his home at Comrie, Perthshire. There is a memorial plaque in Christchurch Priory, Dorset to both father and son. The photo shows him in the dress uniform of the Cameron Highlanders c1910 as a major, with medals for the Sudan campaign of 1898 and the Boer War.
