William John Nelson

First Name: 
William
Middle Name: 
John
Last Name: 
Nelson
Mother's Name: 
Agnes (nee Rowatt)
Father's Name: 
George Nelson
Date Enlisted: 
Thursday, May 27, 1915
Rank at Enlistment: 
Private
Rank at Discharge: 
Private
Unit: 
1st Battalion
Service: 
Infantry
Awards: 
1914/1915 Star
British War Medal
Victory Medal
Place of Death: 
Wollongong
Cause of Death: 
age
Details: 

Private William John Nelson (Service number: 2400) was born in Romsey, Victoria in 1892.

The Australian War Memorial documentshis date of joining as 27 May, 1915 although other sources imply the 27 April,  1915.

William embarked on the HMAT A67 Orsova with 7th Reinforcements 1st Battalion on 14 July, 1915 and saw service on Gallipoli. He later saw service on the Western Front and he was one of the few who were uninjured during his service.

He returned to Australia in January 1919 and was discharged from the AIF on 2 July, 1919.

In 1922 he married Lilly Peace in Wollongong and they resided in Mount Kembla. He died in 1962 and is buried with his wife in Wollongong Cemetery.

Sources: 
NAA: B2455, NELSON WILLIAM JOHN

Comments

All the information given to Illawarra Remembers on William John Nelson my great grand uncle was due to my sister and I doing a lot of research into him. My sister gave the information to Illawarra Remembers including all the research that we personally retrieved from the Australian War Memorial. I would like to thank my sister Kathie Bezer for writing to Illawarra Remembers and giving them everything on William including embarkation, dates, where he fought including Gallipoli, being stationed in Egypt, fighting on the Western Gront and finally coming home in one piece at the end of the war to a huge welcome with other returning soldiers. Also the photos that were supplied were from our family album.
Cheers
Debbi Wetzler.

Thanks to you too, Debbie, for sharing your thoughts. Our thanks also go to you & your family for sharing your great grand uncle's story...

The Illawarra Remembers team.

A very big thankyou to everybody for honouring William Nelson in the way all soldiers have been duly honoured. A wonderful page to read the stories of each and every one of heroes.
Thankyou so much
Debbi.