John Neilson

Submitted by Mt Kembla Minin... on Wed, 28/01/2015 - 09:57
First Name: 
John
Last Name: 
Neilson
Date of Birth: 
Monday, September 15, 1890
Mother's Name: 
Jessie (nee) Hunter
Father's Name: 
Alex Neilson
Date Enlisted: 
Thursday, October 26, 1916
Rank at Enlistment: 
Private
Rank at Discharge: 
Private
Unit: 
8th Battalion
Company: 
D
Service: 
Infantry
Awards: 
British War Medal
Victory Medal
Date of Death: 
Wednesday, October 10, 1917
Place of Death: 
Passchendaele, Belgium
Cause of Death: 
KIA
Details: 

John Neilson (6831) was born in Mount Kembla in 1890 and when he enlisted in the AIF in 1916 he was working as an engine driver. He embarked with the 22nd reinforcements 8th Battalion on the SS Port Napier on 17th November, 1916. He joined D company on the Western Front on 26th May, 1917. He was listed as missing in action on 10th October, 1917 during the Battle of Passchendaele and his death was not confirmed until 10th October, 1918. Red Cross file documents provide evidence that states when "coming out of the line, [he] had both legs blown off by a shell. I saw him and helped bandage him". He was then taken by Private Rice to a dressing station.

John Neilson has no known grave and is remembered on the Menin Gate Memorial at Ypres Belgium.

Additonal information from Kembla Jottings

John Neilson has now had his grave identified. He is buried in Birrs Cross Roads Cemetery plot iv, row e grave 11.

Sources: 
NAA: B2455; NEILSON JOHN

Links

Trove Links

Comments

Kerrie Anne Chr... (not verified)

Sat, 09/05/2015 - 22:03

From Denis Frank : "Andrew Pittaway and myself received the news today that no longer will Plot IV.E.11 In Birrs Cross Roads Cemetery read Unknown 8th Battalion Soldier. Our research was approved by the CWGC. It will now read Private John Neilson 8th Battalion 6831. The team at Fallen Diggers has named successfully 3 unknown graves in 2 months. We have many submissions before the CWGC." - shared on 8.5.2015 by the Australian War Graves Photographic Archive - https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=818364271587913&id=115...

Kembla Jottings (not verified)

Mon, 11/05/2015 - 20:23

His grave has now been identified. See this link: http://www.fallendiggers.com.au/news.html