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. Donald Francis was born in 1893 in Oakham, Rutland, his siblings were, Malcolm Arthur Neilson, born in 1895, Margaret Mary Vere, born 1897 and Joan Helen Frances, born 1898, the latter three siblings were all born in Kettering, Northants., in March 1901 the family home was at Market Place, Kettering, Northants. In April 1911 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. He was at Oakham School (1901-1902), then at Door House, Westgate (1903-1906). After leaving there he was at St. Bee’s (1906-1911), after he won his way to the VIth obtaining his higher certificate, he finished with an open scholarship at Keble College, Oxford. Enlisting in the 1st Battalion of the Lincolnshire Regiment he went on foreign service in December 1914 as a 2nd Lieutenant, taking part in the fighting at Mametz Wood, Loos, Hooge, Givenchy, Delville Wood, Cambrai, Neuve Chapelle, on the Somme and in the German attacks of March 21st to the 28th 1918 for which he received the Distinguished Service Order, he met his death at Wyteschaete, under Kemmel Hill. He had been invested with the Military Cross by the King in January 1917, and the Times Newspaper DSO list for the 26th July 1918 contained the following:- “When in charge of a company he met an enemy break through by forming a defensive flank and checked it. With much cheerfulness and courage he organised several bombing attacks, and held his original trenches intact. Subsequently, during the retirement, he was conspicuous for good leadership, carrying out difficult operations with complete disregard for personal danger. Later he held an exposed forward position completely isolated from his brigade, and the stubborn resistance he made was of incalculable value to the success of the operation”. The above makes no mention of what was only seen by two or three, namely, the placid and calm way in which Donald Neilson fought through it all, and it was this serenity and calmness of temper which was such a characteristic of his whole life. This was, however, only one of the many scenes in which he showed great courage, resource and imperturbability in most difficult positions. The verdicts of those in command of him were:- “He was a man of great worth and charm. It would have been as hard to upset the balance of his character as the serenity of his temper.” “Nothing could depress him, and no circumstances arise with which he was not able to deal. He was always in the thick of the fight, and never spared himself in any way. His death will be a terrible loss to the division and the nation.” “He had before him a career of great promise, and the charm of his personality, the strength of his character, and the high level of his ability would have carried him a long way.” 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. His brother Malcolm Arthur also fell.