S6260 Mounted
NELSON, Frank Searson
| Service Numbers: | 5042, 5048 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 27th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Parkside, South Australia, 12 January 1893 |
| Home Town: | Not yet discovered |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Seedsman |
| Memorials: | Norwood Primary School Honour Board |
World War 1 Service
| 27 Jun 1916: | Involvement Private, 5042, 27th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '15' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Barambah embarkation_ship_number: A37 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 27 Jun 1916: | Embarked Private, 5042, 27th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Barambah, Melbourne | |
| 11 Nov 1918: | Involvement Private, 5048, 27th Infantry Battalion |
Help us honour Frank Searson Nelson's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Adelaide Botanic High School
Frank Searson Nelson was born on 2 January 1893 in Parkside, South Australia. Nelson was raised on Phillis St in Maylands. At the age of 22, he stood 5 feet tall and weighed 34 lbs. Additionally, his chest measured 32-34 inches. Nelson had grey eyes and brown hair.
Nelson’s embarkation date was 27/06/16 and disembarkation was on 1/07/17. Nelson was a part of the 27th Battalion during World War 1. He joined in Adelaide and was assigned to the 7th Brigade in the Second Division. His service number was 5042. The 27th Battalion was the second mainly South Australian Battalion to be raised in World War I. It consisted of volunteers from different regions of South Australia and was part of the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) that fought on the Western Front. Nelson, like a lot of the other young men at that time, answered the call of duty and joined the ranks of the 27th Battalion. He left his mother, Hannah Maria, as his next of kin.
During the war, the 27th Battalion took a part in many major battles and fights, including the Battle of Fromelles was on the 19-20 July 1916 at Fromelles, Nord. It was the first major fought by the Australian’s troops on the Western Front. The attack was designed as a ruse to stop the German from moving south to Somme. Over 5500 Australians became casualties. Around 2000 of them were killed in action or died of wounds and 400 of them were captured. The Battle of Messines was on the 7-14 June 1917 at Mesen, Flanders. Australia, UK, New Zealand Canada fought against Germany. After many years of going through casualties on the Western Front, in 1917 the allies planned to breakthrough. The first thing to do was to capture the Messines Ridge. By taking the ridge, the allies would have a better spot to launch their attack northeast, towards Passchendaele. The British had around 17000 casualties out of 216,000 and the Germans 25000 casualties out of 126,000. The Battle of Passchendaele was on 31st July – 10 November 1917 at Ypres the area of Belgium.
The British led an aggressive attack targeted to break through German lines and capture significant territories. Approximately 250,000 people were killed or injured. These battles were defined by extreme war and heavy casualties. Frank Searson Nelson showed great bravery and purpose during his time in the 27th Battalion. He and his fellow soldiers faced recurring danger and hardship, continuing the horrors of war on the Western Front.
They fought bravely against the German forces and made major contributions to the overall war effort. His service and sacrifices, along with those of his buddies in the 27th Battalion, were appreciated and honoured. His story is one of many that depict the bravery and resilience of Australian soldiers during World War I. Frank Searson Nelson's military records are preserved and accessible through the Virtual War Memorial Australia, allowing future generations to remember and honour his service.