Dr Cameron Blair

Dr Cameron Blair's Obituary appeared in the Feburary 4th 1933 edition of the British Medical Journal. He spent almost his entire professional career in Northern Nigeria and was a good friend to Charles Orr. Below shows an interesting response to the original obituary published on March 25th of that same year. Images courtesy of BMJ. His Africa General Service medal was sold by Bonhams in 2013. It incorporates the information from the BMJ obituary: Dr Matthew Cameron Blair gained his medical qualifications at Glasgow and Edinburgh, he graduated M.B., C.M.Glas. in 1888 and proceeded M.D. in 1895. He was one of the pioneers in laying the foundation of Northern Nigeria, he served first in that country as a Junior Assistant Medical Officer from 1901-07, accompanying the Yola Expeditionary Force receiving the AGS with Northern Nigeria clasp. He subsequently took part in other expeditions, was Senior Medical Officer in the Southern Provinces from 1907-08, and was transferred in the same capacity to the Northern Provinces, where he took part in the Gwari Expedition of 1909. From April 1910 to the end of 1920 he was Sanitary Officer of Northern Nigeria, and from January 1921 to January 1924 deputy director of sanitary services, retiring then at his own request in view of his age and length of service. He remained in Nigeria, however, and was appointed Honorary Consultant to the Nigerian Medical Service. During WW1 he was employed at first with the Nigerian Forces, and in 1917 was Principal Medical Officer of the force sent to aid the French; he received the 1914-15 Star trio. In the latter stages of his life his health failed and he spent time living in the Channel Islands and North Africa. He was a member of the British Medical Association throughout his professional life. His brother also a Doctor was Medical Superintendent of the Lancashire County Mental Hospital at Prestwich.