The AIF Project

Alexander Edward NELSON

Regimental number4860
Place of birthGarrawillia Station, Coonabarabran, New South Wales
SchoolCoonabarabran Public School, New South Wales
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationLabourer
AddressCoonabarabran, New South Wales
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation26
Height5' 8.5"
Weight179 lbs
Next of kinFather, A. Nelson, Coonabarabran, New South Wales
Previous military serviceNil
Enlistment date22 September 1915
Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll1 October 1915
Place of enlistmentNarrabri, New South Wales
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name3rd Battalion, 15th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/20/3
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A15 Star Of England on 8 March 1916
Rank from Nominal RollCorporal
Unit from Nominal Roll55th Battalion
FateKilled in Action 20 July 1916
Age at death from cemetery records27
Place of burialNo known grave
Commemoration detailsV.C. Corner (Panel No 13), Australian Cemetery Memorial, Fromelles, France
Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
161
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Parents: Alexander and Susanna NELSON, The Old Rectory, Coonabarabran, New South Wales
Family/military connectionsBrothers: 841 Lance Corporal Albert Thomas NELSON, 33rd Bn, returned to Australia, 30 January 1918; 2437 Pte Francis Alexander NELSON, 18th Bn, returned to Australia, 3 July 1917; Cousin: 3594 Pte John William MONTGOMERY, 17th Bn, returned to Australia, 12 May 1918.
Other details

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Taken on strength of 55th Bn, Ferry Post, 20 April 1916.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 19 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 29 June 1916.

Posted missing, 20 July 1916.

Court of Enquiry, held in the field, 6 December 1917, pronounced fate as 'Killed in Action, 20 July 1916'.

Note, Red Cross File No 1990401: 'No trace Germany. Cert. by Capt. Mills 10.10.19.'

Statement, 3594 Pte J.W. MONTGOMERY, 2nd Anzac Cycle Bn (patient, No 35 General Hospital, Calais), 18 October 1916: 'He was seen wounded in a German trench and I have spoken to the chaps who saw him but I don't know their names; and the Q.M. told me that he had got word back that he had been taken prisoner with a man Mongomery [4854 R. MONTGOMERY, 55th Bn] in the fifty something Battalion.'

Second statement, 4799 Pte D. DUIGNON, 55th Bn (patient, 1st Southern General Hospital, Dudley Road Section, Birmingham, England), 24 November 1916: 'One of the men in my battalion has had a letter from Nlson dated [blank] from Germany, in which Nelson states that he is a prisoner in the German camp.'

Third statement, 4786 Pte H.J. CURTIS, C Company, 55th Bn (patient, No 4 Australian General Hospital, Randwick), 20 November 1917: 'He was out stretcher bearing on the evening of 20/7/16 at Fleurbaix - he had volunteered for this duty - he was with a mate called Geo. Cartwright and Cartwright told me here that Nelson and he were separated on the night [of] 20/7/16 and that a German patrol captured Nelson and he Cartwright had to return.' Note by interviewer: 'A careful witness.'

Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNAA: B2455, NELSON Alexander Edward
Red Cross File No 1990401

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