NEILSON, Charles
| Service Number: | 1587 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 26 October 1915, transferred to 51st battery 27/3/1916 |
| Last Rank: | Gunner |
| Last Unit: | 5th Division Artillery |
| Born: | North Lismore, New South Wales, Australia, 5 September 1891 |
| Home Town: | Lismore, Lismore Municipality, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Book keeper |
| Died: | Respiratory illness, Maryborough, Queensland, Australia, 27 May 1969, aged 77 years |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: | Paroo Shire Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 26 Oct 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Gunner, 1587, 13th Field Artillery Brigade Ammunition Column, transferred to 51st battery 27/3/1916 | |
|---|---|---|
| 30 Nov 1915: | Involvement Private, 1587, 5th Light Horse Regiment, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '2' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Suffolk embarkation_ship_number: A23 public_note: '' | |
| 30 Nov 1915: | Embarked Private, 1587, 5th Light Horse Regiment, HMAT Suffolk, Sydney | |
| 24 Jul 1917: | Wounded AIF WW1, Gunner, 1587, 5th Division Artillery , Gassed - burn to right groin. Repatriated to England, recovered & returned to front Nov 1917 | |
| 1 Aug 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Gunner, 1587, 5th Division Artillery |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by jude Butwell
Charlie Neilsen was 24 in October 1915 when he enlisted along with his older brothers, Harry and Peter. He had been a book keeper but presumably the lure of war, his brothers' enlistment and Gallipoli induced him to sign up.
Originally meant for the 5th Light Horse he was transferred to the 13th Field Artillery Battalion in April 1916 and trained as a gunner. On reaching the Western Front on 27 July 1916, he served with the 113th Battery until being transferred to hospital 30 December suffering from POV (pyrexia of unknown origin - fever) which became influenza. He was repatriated to England to recuperate then returned to the Front in April 1917. This is the same month that brother Harry was killed near Hermies and brother Peter was repatriated to Australia as medically unfit due to wounds in his right arm and hand.
By May he had transferred to the 50th Battery and was gassed July 24 1917. He was again repatriated to England with a gas burn to the right groin. The gas possibly also affected his lungs as in later life he suffered from chronic respiratory complaints. His great-nephew remembers his hacking cough when visiting with his Pop (brother Peter) in the 1940-50s.
In November 1917 he was back in France being posted to the 51st Battery in May 1918 and promoted to Bombadier in June. However, he was demoted back to Gunner by October at his own request. He survived the war but in March 1919 was back in hospital with tonsillitis. He returned again to England in April and was finally able to leave for Australia June 23 1919 on the Orita, arriving August 9 1919. He had been away from home for almost 4 years.
In 1921 he married Elizabeth and raised 2 daughters. He lived in Brisbane and Maryborough, and died in Brisbane in 1969 at the age of 77.