LANCE CORPORAL N. NEILSON, 2ND BN, SCOTS GUARDS. Two: Egypt Medal 1882-89, undated reverse, 1 clasp Suakin 1885 (officially engraved: (56)78, L/CORP: J. NEILSON 2/(SCOT)S. Gds.) Khedives Star 1884-86 (reverse regimentally impressed, 5678 S. Gds.). mounted loose style, Egypt Medal heavily contact marked and suspender re-affixed, thus Fine, Khedives Star VF.
John Neilson was born in the parish of Cockpen, Edinburgh. He attested for the Scots Guards, aged 19 years and giving his trade as that of miner, at Edinburgh on 4th June 1883. He joined the 2nd Battalion Scots Guards, was promoted Lance Corporal on 1st September 1884, and embarked with them on 21st February 1885, to take part in in the Nile Expedition of 1884-85. He was with the 2nd Battalion Scots Guards in Egypt from 21st February 1885 to 8th July 1885. Neilson's return journey to the U.K. was broken by a stay of 64 days in Cyprus, his only other period of overseas service, which lasted from 9.7.85 to 10.9.85. On his return to the U.K., Neilson was promoted Corporal on 10th November 1885. However, he was subsequently imprisoned from 3rd February 1887 to 10th February 1887, during which period he was tried by District Court Martial for "striking a soldier", and was reduced to Private on 11th Feb. 1887. During his latter years of service Neilson was hospitalised on a number of occasions suffering from gonorrhoea and syphilis. He was hospitalised in Dublin from 5.5.86 - 18.5.86 (gonorrhoea), Windsor from 16.8.88 - 30.8.88 (primary syphilis), London from 8.10.88 - 20.4.89 (secondary syphilis), condition so severe that he was transferred to the army hospital, Woolwich, on 10.10.88 and was treated there up to 20.4.89 (secondary syphilis, noted as being "very severe"), and London from 3.5.89 - 27.5.89 (secondary syphilis). He was also hospitalised from 17.12.89 - 27.12.89, with a wound to the fingers of his left hand, which is noted as "accidental - not on duty." "Neilson completed his seven years service with the Regular Army on 3rd June 1890. He was then transferred to the Army Reserve on 4th June 1890, and served with the Reserve until 3rd June 1895.
Medals accompanied by photocopies of Neilson's Attestation, Medical History, Statement of Service and Military History papers
