NELSON, William August
| Service Number: | 6707 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 3 July 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1) |
| Born: | Collingwood, Victoria, Australia, 1891 |
| Home Town: | Kellerberrin, Kellerberrin, Western Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France, 8 August 1918 |
| Cemetery: |
Heath Cemetery, Picardie, France Heath Cemetery, Harbonnieres, Picardie, France |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Fremantle 849 Memorial, Kings Park Western Australia State War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 3 Jul 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 6707, 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1) | |
|---|---|---|
| 9 Nov 1916: | Involvement Private, 6707, 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1), --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '12' embarkation_place: Fremantle embarkation_ship: HMAT Argyllshire embarkation_ship_number: A8 public_note: '' | |
| 9 Nov 1916: | Embarked Private, 6707, 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1), HMAT Argyllshire, Fremantle | |
| 8 Aug 1918: | Involvement Corporal, 6707, 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1), --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 6707 awm_unit: 16 Battalion awm_rank: Corporal awm_died_date: 1918-08-08 |
Help us honour William August Nelson's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Nelson was awarded a Distinguished Conduct Medal for gallantry on the 4 July 1918, during the Hamel battle when he was in charge of a Lewis Gun. He rushed an enemy machine gun post, capturing the gun, killing two of the crew, and taking the rest prisoners. Later, he pushed his men, some way forward in the direction of the enemy to provide covering fire for the whole of the left of the battalion.
He was killed in action just over a month later, 8 August 1918. From family history records his Dad's real name was Nils Gustaf Nilsson (from Sweden) and the family surname was gradually changed to Nelson.
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