Corporal James Henry Nelson
| Date of Birth | 1895 |
|---|---|
| Age at Death | 20 |
| Date of Death | 14/09/1915 |
| Service Number | 1481 |
| Military Service | 1/6th Battalion, Essex Regiment |
| Merton Address | |
| Local Memorial | St. Saviour’s Church, Raynes Park |
Additional Information
James Henry Nelson was born in March 1895 to parents John and Elizabeth (nee Hope). His parents had married in Gateshead in 1880 and by the time James was Baptised on 3rd April 1895 at St. Ann’s Church in Newcastle they already had several children. Elizabeth, Jane, Arthur and John. James’s father worked as a railway porter.
In the census of 1891 prior to James’s birth the family were residing at 22 Seaham Street in Westgate, Northumberland.
Shortly after James was born his parents appear to have separated. In the census of 1901 James’s mother Elizabeth was listed as being married to an Arthur Walsh, a cabinet maker and living at 16 Parker Street in Westminster London. Three of her children: Jane 15, John W, 9 and James aged five were all listed with the surname Walsh and not Nelson whilst one other son, Arthur G Nelson aged 12 was living with his father John aged 42 in Newcastle.
By 1911 James now aged 15 and his brother John W aged 19 were both working as printers. Their mother Elizabeth and sister Jane were both working as dressmakers and the family were now back with the surname Nelson. The family were living in 4 rooms at 53 Pitchford Street, Stratford, London. Also living at this address and listed as a boarder was Arthur Walsh, Cabinet Maker. The census also shows that James’s mother had been married for 30 years and that 5 of her ten children had died.
James enlisted in Stratford with the 1/6th Battalion Essex Regiment, service number 1481. His regiment disembarked on 10th August 1915 and headed out to Gallipoli in Turkey.
The 8-month campaign in Gallipoli was fought by Commonwealth and French forces attempting to force Turkey out of the war and to relieve the deadlock of the Western Front in France and Belgium. James a Corporal, was killed in Action just a month later on 14th September 1915. He was buried/commemorated in the 7th Field Ambulance Cemetery in Gallipoli.
On the Register of soldier's effects (James Henry Nelson) payment of money owing from his pay was passed to two joint legatees: his mother Elizabeth Nelson and Arthur Walsh who I assume acted as father to him.
James’s name appears on two memorials: the 1st 6th Battalion of the Essex Regiment at all Saints church in West Ham, East London and also a St. Saviour's Church in Raynes Park.