NELSON, Vernon Arthur
| Service Number: | 4832 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 32nd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Osmond Terrace, Norwood, South Australia, 22 July 1899 |
| Home Town: | Adelaide, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Cleaner |
| Died: | Australia, cause of death not yet discovered, date not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: | Adelaide Royal Oak Lodge Honor Roll, Adelaide South Australian Railways WW1 & WW2 Honour Boards, Norwood Primary School Honour Board |
World War 1 Service
| 23 Jun 1917: | Involvement Private, 4832, 32nd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '17' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Borda embarkation_ship_number: A30 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 23 Jun 1917: | Embarked Private, 4832, 32nd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Borda, Adelaide | |
| 5 May 1918: | Wounded 4832, 32nd Infantry Battalion, Gunshot wound to the abdomen | |
| 15 May 1918: | Wounded 4832, 32nd Infantry Battalion, Severe Shrapnel wound to the chest at Aldershot | |
| 25 Jun 1918: | Transferred 32nd Infantry Battalion, Transferred to the third Aux. Hospital | |
| Date unknown: | Wounded 4832, 48th Infantry Battalion |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by St Ignatius' College
Vernon Arthur Nelson
Life Before the War:
Vernon Arthur Nelson was a regular town boy born in and from Norwood, South Australia, he was born in 1911 and was an average Australian, with brown hair, blue eyes and a medium complexion. He was 5 feet and 4 inches and was part of the Congregational church. He worked as a railway cleaner and served for 4 years in the senior cadets. His next of kin was his father, Thomas Nelson. His mother was Angelina Putland and he had 4 siblings.
He signed up for the war 3 years later because he was too young, being aged 15. When he turned 18 in 1917, he almost immediately signed up to join in the war.
Life in Service:
When he joined, he was sent to the 48th Infantry Battalion on the ship H.M.A.T. H30. This was soon after the 48th were formed, because the AIF (Australian Imperial Force) needed to double in size. they trained in Egypt. The 48th Battalion was created from the 16th Battalion and most men were from Western Australia and South Australia. The 48th Battalions first major battle was in Pozieres. Vernon Arthur joined up after this frightening and morbid battle in which the 48th Battalion suffered 598 casualties.
During their training in Egypt, Vernon was the life of the 48th Battalion, he was loved by many and a great companion to have alongside them. On the 9th of April, the 48th Battalion participated in the Battle of Bullecourt and the Battle of Passchendaele and Vernon did not suffer any injuries.
On the 5th of February, Vernon was transferred to the 32nd Battalion, being separated from many of his friends he made along the journey. The 32nd did not fight many major battles in 1917 and participated in many small battles, in one of these battles in France, Vernon suffered a gunshot wound to the abdomen and required medical assistance, he was sent back to England to regain his strength, He was sent to Cambridge Military Hospital, in Aldershot, Hampshire.
During that time, he always stayed happy and had as much fun in England as he could while he had the chance. He then went back to France to fight and just 11 days after his gunshot wound to the abdomen, he received a severe shrapnel wound to the chest.
After the War:
He returned to Australia on the 19th of October, 1918. He returned to normal civilian life while most likely suffering from many psychological effects from the war. He married Irene Deliah Humphries Thorpe in 1927 when he was 28. His father died on the 13th of May, 1935 in Adelaide, aged 68.
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