Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of William Fitzroy Neilson a bank manager, born 1856 in North Witham, Lincs., and his wife Anna Helen, born 1858 in Middleton, Warwks. Malcolm Arthur Neilson was born in 1895 in Kettering, Northants, his siblings were, Donald Francis, born 1893 in Oakham, Rutland, Margaret Mary Vere, born 1897 and Joan Helen Frances, born 1898, the latter two siblings were both born in Kettering, Northants., in March 1901 the family home was at Market Place, Kettering, Northants. In April 1911 Malcolm was a schoolboy and was residing as a boarder at The School House, Oakham, Rutland. His father, was residing with his mother at the family home at Sunnybank, Stockerston Road, Uppingham, Rutland together with his siblings, Henry Vere, a Cambridge undergraduate, born 1890 in Northampton, Margaret, studying at home, Joan, studying at home and Christopher Bernard Vere, a schoolboy, born 1904 in Uppingham, Rutland. His parents later resided at The Rockery, Lyddington, Rutland. He entered Oakham School in 1908, and on the outbreak of war was a student at Ontario Agricultural College in Canada. He joined the 2nd Battalion Canadian Infantry, as a Sergeant and embarked for France in January 1915. He received a commission a few months later, and was promoted to Major in the Autumn of 1916. He was involved in the fighting around Ypres in April 1915 when the Germans first used poison gas and the Canadians faced it without masks. He met with a serious accident while teaching in grenade school in France on December 28th 1915 and was invalided home, but returned to the front in September 1916. The Battle of Arras began on the 9th April 1917, and in this the whole might of Canada was drawn together in four divisions which lay facing the historic Vimy Ridge, a long and gradual slope, which reaches a height of more than 450 feet at the summit. Sweeping onwards with irresistible fury, they overran three lines of German trenches, including the famous La Folie Farm, captured the village of Farbus, and secured the splendid total of 70 officers and 3,500 men as prisoners. It was quite early in the attack that Major Neilson was killed by a shell, while helping his servant who had previously been hit. A brother officer, writing of him, says:- “He was not only admired and respected – he was loved. It was generally conceded that he was one of the most able and efficient officers in the Battalion. But to those of us who knew him intimately, who lived and worked with him, he was not only an exceptionally able soldier, but a gentleman of the first water. He lived his life with a definite purpose for usefulness, He was clean in thought, word and action. He had a clear conception of the obligations of life, and, with benefit to all who came into contact with him, he tried with success to carry them out.”His brother Donald Francis also fell. His enlistment documents record that he gave his mother, Mrs Neilson of Stoke Dry, Uppingham, Rutland, England as his next of kin. He gave his trade or calling as Agricultural Student, and stated that he was unmarried. He had served for 2 years with the O.T.C. Information taken from his medical examination shows that he was 5 foot 10 inches in height and had a chest measurement of 35 to 39 inches. His complexion was described as fair with hazel eyes and light brown hair. It was noted that he had 3 pock marks on his forehead over the bridge of his nose. He gave his religion as Church of England.On Friday April 20th 1917 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “MELTON AND THE WAR” – CAPTAIN M. NEILSON KILLED.- Mrs Neilson of Lyddington, has received the sad news that her son, Captain (acting Major) Malcolm Neilson, Canadians, was killed in action on the Vimy Ridge on Easter Monday. Two other of Mrs Neilson’s sons have been wounded during the war, H. V. Neilson losing a leg, and Donald at present in hospital, suffering from a damaged knee. The late W. F. Neilson (father) was manager of the Stamford and Spalding Banks (now Barclay’s) at Melton Mowbray and Uppingham for many years. Father and sons were all exceptionally good cricketers.