Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Alfred Nelson was born in Glasgow, Scotland on the 26th of December 1890.  His parents were Robert Francis Neilson and Jane (Jeanie) Neilson. It seems the ‘i’  in Neilson was deleted and inserted in various documents. This is evidenced in the 1881 Scotland Census where the family name is Nelson, the 1891 Census lists the family name as Neilson, and the 1901 Census has the family name back to Nelson.

Descendants of the family feel that a number of factors were likely responsible for the change from Neilson to Nelson including poor literacy, officialdom, and possibly census error.    

He was the youngest of four brothers:

Francis Neilson born 1880 and died as a child in 1882.

Robert Neilson born 1881.

Hugh Sloan Neilson born 1886 and accidently drowned in Scotland as a young man in 1910.

William Neilson born 1889.

After completing his schooling at Glasgow High School, he enrolled in Glasgow University with the intention of training as an Engineer. Whilst he was completing university he did 16 months of training with a pattern maker at the Glasgow/Fairfield Engineering Company. He also completed a period of service with the Glasgow High School Cadets, and the 5th Highland Light Infantry (City of Glasgow Battalion). This was a Militia or ‘Territorial’ battalion.

Alfred emigrated to Australia aged 22 embarking from Liverpool and arrived in Melbourne around January 1913. 

Alfred had made his way to Brisbane when war broke out in 1914. He enlisted in Brisbane on the 12th of October 1914 and was allocated to the 15th Australian Infantry Battalion with the regimental number 934. He completed his enlistment medical at Enoggera Army Camp near Brisbane on the same day and was passed fit to deploy overseas on active service. Alfred was described as 23 years, 10 months old, five feet seven and a quarter inches tall with a fair complexion, brown eyes and brown hair. He weighed a typical for the time 127 pounds or 57.5 kilograms. Upon enlistment Alfred used the family name NELSON rather than NEILSON.

The 15th Battalion was formed in September 1914 with three quarters being made up of troops from Queensland and the other being from Tasmania. Alfred was allocated to B Company, six Platoon. At this time the Companies were allocated based on the home location of the men. For example, Alfred was in B Company which consisted of men from Port Curtis – Rockhampton regions so we can safely assume he was working and living there at the time of enlistment.

When it raised, the 15th Battalion had about 85% of the men who had never soldiered before. The Commanding Officer (CO) had to appoint ‘Provisional NCOs’ from those with prior experience to help train the rest. Lieutenant-Colonel James Cannan, the CO, was an extremely efficient administrator and commander who had been with militia units since 1903.  Alfred was trained in Musketry (rifle shooting), Drill with and without arms, Hygiene in the field, and other useful activities. The CO was very thorough in his desire for the men to be well trained. He went to the extent of hiring rifle club expert shooters to coach the men on the range.    

By November 1914 the training had intensified and Alfred was now moving on to more complex concepts such as Skirmishing, Target Indications and fire control orders. The men had all now been issued one complete uniform. In late November the discipline and health of the men was reported as being good.

The 15th Battalion was ordered to concentrate at Broadmeadows Camp just outside of Melbourne, Victoria by the end of November 1914. They entrained at Enoggera and after a brief stop in Sydney to complete a ceremonial march to Moonee Park, arrived at Broadmeadows camp at 5p.m. on the 26th of November 1914. Now the Battalion was complete with the men from Tasmania, a further, more advanced series of training events occurred. Alfred was taught march discipline, protection on the march, how to build and occupy an outpost and defensive position, delaying actions and hasty entrenchments although the inclement Spring weather in Victoria made training difficult and a little bit miserable for the men.

The 15th Battalion marched through Melbourne to cheering crowds on the 17th of December 1914 in preparation for embarkation. Alfred embarked from Melbourne aboard HMAT A40 CERAMIC on the 22nd of December 1914. The CERAMIC was a leased, armed, White Star Line ship launched in 1912. Ironically, after surviving multiple submarine attacks in the Great War, she was sunk in 1942 whilst again being leased as a troopship. The Convoy sailed from Melbourne at 2 p.m. on the 22nd of December, arriving at Albany, Western Australia at 6 a.m. on the 28th of December 1914. After two days embarking and disembarking troops and supplies, the 16 ship convoy sailed from Albany, for Egypt on New Year’s Eve 1914.

Aboard the CERAMIC, a concert was conducted on the evening of the 1st of January 1915 for the embarked troops. This concert consisted of pieces from the 15th Battalion band, humorous skits, songs and was concluded with a hearty rendition of God Save the King. Training was supposed to continue at sea but owing to the lack of deck space aboard this was found to be difficult. They arrived in Aden on the 27th of January and from there to Port Said, Egypt via the Suez Canal. Alfred arrived in Alexandria on the 1st of February 1915 after spending his 24th birthday, Christmas and New year at sea.

Landing at Alexandria, Alfred and his mates entrained to Heliopolis to the Aerodrome Camp and almost immediately commenced training for, a then, unknown enemy engagement. This continued all through February, and Alfred, who was already well travelled, found himself in the land of Egypt, a land he’d only read about in the bible up until now. Whilst training in Egypt the men encountered the locals, sometimes positive and sometimes in quite a negative manner with numerous instances of fighting breaking out whilst on leave in Cairo.

On the 24th of February 1915, the Battalion reported their first non-battle casualty when No. 1302 Private Charles Brown died in hospital of pneumonia.  At this stage the Battalion was preparing to head to Europe.

March 1915 began with more training. Alfred was drilled, drilled and drilled again in shooting, tactics and other skills though critical by his commanders. There was a focus on fire orders with the CO stating:

            “A specialty is to be made of Company Field
             Firing in order that correct description of
             targets, fire control, discipline and orders are
             familiar to all ranks.

             It should be realised that even if men are
             excellent shots their fire is of no effect if
             it is not controlled or delivered in the right
             volume on the right target”

The CO went on to direct that classes be held to teach Non-Commissioned Officers and Officers the art of fire control. Whilst this is textbook skillsets, the reality on Gallipoli was to be much different. As March progressed the CO again reinforced the need for better control of fire:

          "The Commanding Officer is very pleased with
          results achieved in Marching and digging (both
          by day and night). He is also satisfied with the
          fine physique of the Battalion, a bayonet charge
          can be pressed home, with successful results to
          the 15th Battalion, and disaster to their
          enemies.

          There is however, a terrible weakness in our
          musketry, not the inability of the members of
          the 15th Battalion to use the rifle (On the
          contrary, individually, members of the 15th
          Battalion are mostly good shots) but due to the
          lack of training and instruction of all ranks in
          fire direction, fire control, and fire discipline
          and field operations……………..

          ……………No opportunities must be lost. This
          matter requires urgent and serious attention,
          otherwise, waste of ammunition, bad shooting,
          and loss of morale will be the result, which, in
          short, means disaster.”

March also saw Alfred take part in numerous Brigade sized exercises as both an attacker and defender. These exercises had now honed the men to a level of efficiency that enabled them to be ready for deployment. It seems that Alfred remained in the ‘good books’ throughout his training as his name does not appear in any of the extensive defaulter’s lists.

The 15th Battalion was finally given orders to leave Egypt. The men were not initially told where they were going to ensure security remained in place but the Commanding Officer briefed his Officers on their destination. They departed Aerodrome Camp on the 11th of April 1915 for Alexandria.

The Battalion embarked on two troopships; the SEANG BEE, and the AUSTRALIND. It is not stated which troopship Alfred embarked upon but there is reasonable evidence to assume it was the AUSTRALIND. The SEANG BEE departed at 5 a.m. on the 12th of April, followed by the AUSTRALIND at 3 p.m. on the 13th of April; both bound for the Greek Island of Lemnos arriving on the 14th and 15th of April respectively. From the 15th to the 24th of April the entire Battalion practiced disembarkation into cutters and other small craft. Alfred made a will a couple of days before landing at Gallipoli that simply stated:

             In the event of my death I give £20. to
             my brother, William Nelson, 23 Caird Drive,
             Partick, Glasgow, and I give the remaining
             part of my property to my Mother and Father
             (equally), J. And R. Nelson.

                          (SGD) Alfred Nelson.

                           Private. No. 934.
                            15th Battalion,

                            4th Brigade.

           23rd April 1915. Australian 2nd Exped. Force.

The Battalion left Lemnos on the morning of the 25th of April 1915. They witnessed the bombardment of Gallipoli and the first landings of the 9th Australian Infantry Battalion. The 15th Battalion did not fully disembark until 9 a.m. on the 26th of April, by which time a number of men had been wounded aboard the ship when it was hit by shrapnel fire.

On the 30th of April Alfred had moved into Monash Gully and C Company and one Platoon of B Company moved into Pope’s Hill.  

On the 6th of May 1915, Alfred had a very lucky escape suffering a gunshot wound to the left side of his head in a failed sniper attack at Quinn’s Post. He was evacuated to the 17th General Hospital at Mustapha for treatment and recovery, returning to the unit on the 1st of June 1915 with seven other wounded and seven reinforcements. The Battalion was resting in Walker’s Gully at this time. They remained in Walker’s Gully, resting for all of June 1915. Resting, however, did not mean doing nothing. Men were sent on fatigue parties to deliver food and water to the trenches, to bring out wounded, and to help dig more trenches. They were still being killed and wounded. Walker’s Gully was also within artillery range of the Ottoman guns and they did receive the occasional bombardment, usually with minor casualties. Most of July 1915 was spend back in the bivouac area as well.

In early August the Battalion was warned out for an attack with the objective being:

"With a view to eventually occupying the line GABA TEPE – along main spur marked approximately by track 82-87-165, CHUNUK BAIR and thence along the CHUNUK BAIR RIDGE to and including KOJA CHEMEN TEPE”

The 15th Battalion’s role in this attack was as a part of the left assaulting Column with the objective of KOJA CHEMEN TEPE, or colloquially know as HILL 971.

The men were ordered to affix white patches on the rear of their uniform and on their left arm to help identify friend from foe and to assist in keeping sight of men in column at night. The orders for the attack were very detailed with surprise being the optimal outcome, although the time assessment made by the planners was wildly optimistic and had the attack commencing at 9.35 p.m. and the objective being reached at 1.40 a.m. the next day; a period of four hours and five minutes to travel over six kilometres in the dark, through hilly terrain against a determined enemy. 

The men were instructed to “Not fall out to assist wounded, no smoking is to be permitted, rifles are not to be loaded, men must take the opportunity to cut and knot enemy telephone wire, put enemy guns and machine guns out of action, everyone must know and use passwords”. The main issue was that the men were not briefed until very late on the evening of the 6th of August, and then only in part. So the Commanders knew what was going on, but the men, not so much.

General Monash briefed his commanders on the 6th of August and explained the plan to them of particular interest was the objective:

“The Brigade will march out tonight, well ahead of No. 3 outpost, where the battalions will swing round, face due East, and make a dash for Hill 971, which as you all know, is the dominating peak of the whole zone. You have to keep your eyes on that big peak all the time.”

On the evening of the 6th of August 1915, Alfred moved to the start point at RESERVE GULLY. The 15th Battalion was initially in reserve behind BrigaInfectious de Headquarters. The purely administrative move along BEACH ROAD to the point where the assault commenced from the valley of AGHYL DERE was led by the 13th and 14th Infantry Battalions which were then to move to the left flank of the attack to provide protection whilst the 15th and 16th Infantry battalions assaulted the objective.

Upon reaching the start point for the Attack, Alfred’s B Company was designated as the Advance Guard. They commenced the advance at about 2.30 a.m. on the 7th of August, across an open clearing and within 200 metres were fired upon by Ottoman troops to their front. They attacked this position with bayonets and drove off or captured the enemy. The advance continued.

Again the advance was fired upon and this time it was from the front and both flanks. Alfred fought his way forward with the support of D Company and the ridges were cleared of enemy. The advance continued. By daybreak on the 7th of August, the men had push forward through rough terrain covered in prickly scrub that hid the Ottoman troops well. Every metre of ground was fought for and by this stage the men were becoming fatigued. The Battalion had not met its objectives and were forced to dig in and wait for orders. Thus far there had been seven Officers wounded, about 30 men killed, and about 75 men wounded. They were eventually ordered to dig deeper, prepare for counterattacks and wait for nightfall to continue.

At 3:10 a.m. on the morning of the 8th of August, they set off again, and again Alfred’s B Company was leading. They advanced down a steep decline and then halted whilst a reconnaissance was made on how best to get up the spur line ahead. It is unclear where exactly Alfred was with 6 Platoon; he could have been in the advance guard, or potentially out on the right flank, regardless he was at the front of the push.  

The Battalion climbed the steep spur and reached the top without incident, they had now travelled 500 metres without encountering the enemy. The flank guards were called back in and they continued their advance. After another 600 metres, they encountered a thick, thorny undergrowth and at about 4:15 a.m. the advance guard encountered Ottoman patrols and firing broke out. Alfred’s Company then commenced running forward to close with the enemy who were now firing at them from three directions with rifles and machine guns.

The advance was now stalled and being fired upon by up to eight machine guns. The Commanding Officer reinforced Alfred’s Company and they pushed on but were taking heavy casualties. At this stage the Ottomans Counterattacked and the lead troops of the Battalion began to fall back. Soon the entire attack was in retreat but small groups of men were cut off by the quickly advancing Ottoman troops and captured or killed. Unfortunately, the details of Alfred’s capture are lost to time but he was taken prisoner on the 8th of August 1915.

Post the attack, the Battalion counted their casualties and realised they had lost 100 men killed, 102 men missing, and 188 men wounded. This was a massive toll and of the 100 men missing, many were later found to have died.  

Alfred’s personal items were packaged up by the Army and sent to his NOK. His listed items were: three photographs, one parcel addressed to Mrs Nelson, one locked box, a package of letters, two black leather wallets, one bible, a package of papers, four exercise books, and one serviette ring. Alfred’s brother Robert receipted this package in July of 1917.

Alfred wound have been grouped together with the other POW captured during the attack and sent off to Constantinople.  He was transferred to Bilemedik before the work ran out there which resulted in a transfer to Angora.

He became ill, was admitted to hospital and died on the 28th of November 1916 of infectious enteritis. Enteritis is an inflammation of the small intestine caused by ingestion of bacteria. This then causes fever, vomiting and diarrhoea. Enteritis in eminently treatable with fluid replacement and rest. Alfred likely died of dehydration.

He was buried in the Catholic Cemetery in Angora. The Ottoman Red Cross did not officially notify the British until the 28th of April 1917 of Alfred’s death.  

Post War the investigations continued into the fate of missing men. The authorities knew Alfred had been a prisoner and that he had reportedly died, but the details were lacking. Repatriated POW were interviewed and asked to recall detail of their missing mates. No. 958 Trooper George Roberts of the 1st Australian Light Horse Regiment had been captured at Romani on the 4th of August 1916 and was interned at Afion-Kara-Hissar, Bilemedik, and Angora and so came across many of the missing men. He provided prolific and detailed statements as a POW and after the war such as the following:

           “I wrote to Miss Chomley last week giving
            further list of Colonial dead and (O’Callaghan)
            name was amongst them. In case my letters
            to Miss Chomley were destroyed here is a
            complete list – Sergt. Sullivan, 9th. L.H., Sgt
            J.R. Drysdale, 2nd. L.H., Cpl. Sommerville,
            2nd L.H., Tprs Andrew Day 2nd L.H., Tpr.
            Patten, 9th L.H., Tpr Scroop 9th L.H., Pte
            O’Callaghan 9th Bn., Pte Alfred Nelson 15th
            Bn., and Pte. Chapman Mathers 15th Battn.
            Those I can certify as dead.”

Post War, Alfred’s war medals were duly dispatched to his family in Scotland. He received the Victory Medal, British War Medal, and the 1914/15 Star. His family also received the Memorial Scroll and Memorial Plaque issued to NOK of those who had died on active service.

In the mid 1920’s the Imperial War Graves Commission realised the enormity of the task to maintain the scattered war burials throughout the Middle East and Turkey. They determined that it would be easier to exhume the remains of men who had died in captivity and reinter them in already established, more secure War Cemeteries. Baghdad’s North Gate Cemetery was at the time chosen as one such place.

Alfred’s family would have been notified of the intent to exhume his remains and move them to Baghdad. Unfortunately, as was the case with many of the dead POW, his remains were originally buried in unmarked graves by his Ottoman captors. So the Imperial War Graves Commission wrote to his family again, explaining that due to being unable to locate his remains that he would have a memorial in Baghdad anyway, but it would be inscribed with ‘BURIED IN ANGORA CEMETERY’. The family was also given the opportunity to provide a personalised inscription at cost, which they did.

Alfred is remembered on panel 77 of the Australian War memorial and in Baghdad’s North Gate Cemetery in the Angora Memorial, Grave 122. In 2019 his memorial headstone was showing signs of weather damage but was very readable.

It bears the family provided epitaph WE WILL MEET AGAIN