Frederick John NELSON
Year of Birth: 1896
Place of Birth: Townsville, Queensland
Date of Enlistment: 2 December 1915
Date and Place of Embarkation: 18 May 1916, Sydney, New South Wales
Ship: HMAT Demosthenes A64
Rank: Private
Unit(s): 41st Infantry Battalion
Regimental Number: 711
Died: 29 April 1917
Frederick John Nelson was born 18 June 1896 to Frederick T Nelson, Annie O’Neill. The birth of one sister, Annie, born 15 March 1894 could be found but an In Memoriam notice for Frederick John indicates there was more than one sister a Mrs E. M. Douglas. Unable to locate any other births for Frederick and Annie. Frederick John’s sister Annie died in 1976.
Frederick John’s mother, Annie Teresa died the day before him, on the 28 April 1917.
The Nelson family lived at 24 Florence Street, Cairns. At the time of his enlistment Frederick John was residing in Townsville and his occupation was an Assistant Engineer; His father gives his occupation as Fireman. He gave his age as 19 years 5 months. His height was 5 feet 9 inches, weighed 132 pounds with dark complexion, blue eyes and black hair. His religion was Roman Catholic. Frederick attended the Convent School in Cairns.
Frederick John Nelson was killed in action on the 29 April 1917 at Ploegsteert Wood during the lead up operation to the main offensive against the Germans. The main battle at Ploegsteert Wood did not take place until 7 June.
Frederick was buried just north of Ploegsteert, 3 miles north of Armentieres and reburied in the Strand Military Cemetery, Ploegsteert, Wallonie, Belgium.
Online Resources
Queensland Registrar of Births Deaths & Marriages
Photograph of the HMAT Demosthenes, Australian War Memorial
NAA: B2455, Nelson, Frederick John, National Archives of Australia
Photograph Frederick James Nelson
National Library of Australia: Trove Digitised Newspapers
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