John Nelson
Name: John James Nelson
Rank: Lance Corporal
Service number: 1734
Unit served: 16th Battalion
Personal details: He was born to William and Elizabeth Nelson in Wilmington, South Australia. He enlisted on the 4th of January, 1915 in Oaklands at the age of 24 years and 8 months. He was 5’5” tall and he weighed 140 lbs with a fair complexion and blue eyes. Before he enlisted he was a blacksmith by trade.
Military details: He left Adelaide aboard the ‘Port Lincoln’ on the 1st of April, 1915 to the 16th battalion. He arrived in Gallipoli sometime later. He reported sick on the 26th of August 1915 and was sent to hospital and rejoined his unit on the 8th of December that year. He then disembarked at Alexandria from Gallipoli after the evacuation on the 30th. He then left Alexandria aboard the ‘Canada’ on the 1st of June, 1916 and arrived at Marseilles on the 9th where he was appointed to Lance Corporal on the 16th of July. He was killed during the attack on Circular Trench on the 10th of August, 1916; two days after his unit began fighting in the battle at Pozieres.
Date of death: 10th of August, 1916.
Age at death: 26 and 4 months.
Memorial Details: 26 Villers-Bretonneux, France.
Interesting Material: John James Nelson is the uncle of the late husband of the former Governor of South Australia, Ms. Marjorie Jackson-Nelson.
Image from the "Observer" September 23rd 1916 sourced through Trove
