Category: South Australia

Second Lieutenant Richard Anacletus Nelson – 4240

Richard A Nelson
Photograph portrait of Richard A Nelson in uniform. Source:https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1255935

Richard Anacletus Nelson was born in South Australia in 1893. In August 1915 he enlisted in the A.I.F. in Adelaide where he embarked for the front in January 1916. At first he was posted as a Private to the 2nd then 10th Battalion, but by February 1916 he was appointed to the 50th Battalion where he was steadily promoted through the ranks to the position of Second Lieutenant by October 1917. On the 7th of November 1917,  Richard A Nelson was killed after stepping on an unexploded bomb.

Details

Birth: Richard A Nelson was born on the 11th of July 1893 to Annie O’Halloran and Patrick Nelson in Petersburg, South Australia. He had three brothers, Tom, Mick and P (full name unknown).

Religion and Occupation: Catholic Engine Cleaner.

Engagement: He was engaged to be married to Miss E Owens.

Enlistment: He enlisted in Adelaide, SA on the 11th of August 1915.

Embarkation: Private Nelson departed Adelaide, SA on the 11th of January 1916 on board  the HMAT Borda A30.

Service Details:

  • Private 11/8/15 – 1/11/15 C Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Brigade, A.I.F.
  • Private 1/11/15 – 25/2/16 Transferred to 13th Reinforcements, 10th Battalion, 3rd Brigade, A.I.F.
  • Private 25/2/16 – 12/3/16 Transferred to 50th Battalion, 13th Brigade, A.I.F.
  • Promoted to Corporal 12/3/16 – 15/7/16 50th Battalion, 13th Brigade, A.I.F.
  • Promoted to Lance Sergeant 15/7/16 – 14/8/16 50th Battalion, 13th Brigade, A.I.F.
  • Promoted to Sergeant 14/8/16 – 10/10/17 50th Battalion, 13th Brigade, A.I.F.
  • Wounded in Action on 7/11/16 with severe gun shot wound to eye and foot. Admitted to 2nd Southern General hospital until 12/9/17.
  • Promoted to Second Lieutenant 10/10/17 – 7/11/17 50th Battalion, 13th Brigade, A.I.F.
  • Died on the 7/11/17.

Medals: Victory Medal, British War Medal

  • Also received Military Medal for his brave actions at Zonnebeke on 26th of September 1917.

Death: On the 7th of November 1917, while walking across a field with unexploded bombs during a break, Richard A Nelson was killed. He was buried in the Dernancourt Communal Cemetery Extension in Albert in Plot VI. F. 25.

Sources:

http://discoveringanzacs.naa.gov.au/browse/records/334921

http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/427090/

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1658969

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R2382396

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1498860

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1947666

http://ww1sa.gravesecrets.net/ne.html

  • See Nelson, Richard Anacletus MM

Private James Francis – 1268

James Francis was born in England in 1887 but later enlisted in South Australia in September 1914. After receiving initial training James Francis was appointed as a Private to the 16th Battalion. Throughout his service he was subject to military discipline due to being absent without leave and failing to follow orders on a number of occasions. In April 1917 Private Francis was taken prisoner by the Germans and interred at Limburg Prisoner of War Camp until his release in December 1918.

Details

Birth: James Francis was born in Liverpool, England on the 25th of February 1887 to his father James Francis.

Enlistment: On the 15th of September 1914 James Francis enlisted in Morphetville, South Australia.

Embarkation: Private Francis departed from Melbourne on the 22nd of December 1914 on board the HMAT Ceramic A40.

Service Details:

  • Private 19/12/14 – 12/6/19 H Company, 16th Battalion, 13th Brigade, A.I.F.
  • Wounded in Action 2/5/15 Gun Shot Wound Left Leg – Returned to Service on 4/10/15
  • Admitted to hospital with Venereal Disease – Gonorrhoea 13/1/16 – 16/3/16
  • Absent from Roll Call on 20/6/16 – Forfeited one days pay
  • Absent Without Leave on 5/7/16 from 9am to 10pm – Forfeited 23 days pay
  • Absent Without Leave on 2/11/16 from 11am to 6pm and also Failed to Obey an Order – Forfeited 28 days pay
  • Failed to Obey an Order on 18/12/16 – Forfeited 7 days pay
  • Taken Prisoner by the Germans on 11/4/17 and interred at Limburg Prisoner of War Camp and was later released on the 12/12/18.
  • Discharged from A.I.F. on the 12/6/19

Medals: 1914/15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.

Death: James Francis died from renal failure in Brisbane, Queensland on the 6th of January 1970.

Sources:

http://discoveringanzacs.naa.gov.au/browse/records/99390

https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=32539322

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1819932

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1485296

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R2328516

Private Peter Joseph O’Reilly – 5378

Peter Joseph O’Reilly was born in South Australia in 1893 and enlisted in February 1916. He was a Private in the 19th Battalion before being transferred to the 18th Battalion. During his service he had a number of illnesses and wounds as well as a number of disciplinary actions after being absent without leave and drunkenness. After being discharged he joined the Russian Relief Force.

Details

Birth: Peter was born in Adelaide, South Australia in 1893 and had one sister Catherine Taylor (née O’Reilly).

Religion and Occupation: Roman Catholic Hairdresser.

Enlistment: He enlisted in Bathurst, NSW on the 18th of February 1916.

Embarkation: Peter departed Sydney on the 22nd of August 1916 on board the HMAT Wiltshire A18.

Service Details:

  • Private 24/6/16 – 18/12/16 4th Reinforcements, 19th Battalion, 5th Brigade, A.I.F.
  • Private 18/12/16 – 11/10/18 19th Battalion, 5th Brigade, A.I.F.
  • Private 11/10/18 – 5/7/19 Transferred to 18th Battalion, 5th Brigade, A.I.F.
  • Discharged from A.I.F. on the 5th of July 1919 in London.
  • Joined the Machine Gun Corps of the Russian Relief Force on the 26/5/19

Wounds and Illness:

  • Venereal Disease 29/8/16 – 31/8/16
  • Trench Feet 9/3/17 – 2/5/17
  • Scabies 24/7/17 – 9/8/17
  • Boils 24/8/17 – 28/8/17
  • Scabies 2/10/17 – 11/10/17
  • Trench Feet 8/4/18 – 22/5/18

Military Discipline:

  • Absent Without Leave 24/10/16 – Soldier went absent without leave between 7am and 5pm.
  • Drunken Behaviour 28/10/16 – Soldier was charged with drunkenness, insulting an officer and assaulting an officer.
    • Received 14 days detention as punishment
  • Absent Without Leave 2/12/16 – Soldier went absent without leave from 12:30 until 4pm when arrested.
    • Forfeited 4 days pay.
  • Drunkenness 18/10/17 – Charged with being Drunk while on active service
  • Absent Without Leave 9/11/17 – 15/11/17 – Soldier was absent without leave from 8am on the 9th to 5pm on the 15th of November.
    • Forfeited 28 Days pay.

Medals: Victory Medal and British War Medal

Sources:

http://discoveringanzacs.naa.gov.au/browse/records/432086

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1869266

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R2228872

 

Private Alfred Vivian Marcel Clare Fontaine – 1542

Alfred was born in West Melbourne, 1895 and joined the A.I.F. in August 1915. He joined the 9th Light Horse Regiment until he was discharged in April 1916 due to being medically unfit. In Australia he married his wife, Ivy before being conscripted back into the French army and then transferring to the British.

Details

Names: also known as La Fontaine and De La Fontaine.

Born: West Melbourne, Victoria in 1895 to Marcel Joseph La Fontaine.

Wife and Children: He married Ivy Dorothea Alicia Alberts (b.20/10/1892) on the 3rd of June 1916. They had a daughter, Dulcie Lillian De La Fontaine born on the 14th of March 1918.

Religion and Occupation: Roman Catholic Labourer.

Enlistment: Joined in Adelaide, South Australia on the 11th of August, 1915.

Embarkation: Left Adelaide on the 18th of November 1915 on HMAT Geelong A2.

Service Details:

  • Private 11/8/15 – 6/4/16 12th Reinforcements, 9th Light Horse Regiment, 3rd Light Horse Brigade, A.I.F.
  • Discharged in Adelaide, SA on 6th of April 1916 due to being medically unfit.
  • Later conscripted into French army before transferring to the British Army.

Medals: 1914/15 Star, Victory Medal, British War Medal

Sources:

http://discoveringanzacs.naa.gov.au/browse/records/68871

https://sarcib.ww1.collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/soldier/alfred-vivian-marcel-clare-fontaine

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R2037687