Second Lieutenant Richard Anacletus Nelson – 4240

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

Second Lieutenant Thomas Ray Crooks – 1305

Thomas Ray Crooks was born in October 1884 in Hobart but enlisted in the A.I.F. in New South Wales in December 1914. After enlisting he was promoted through the ranks to Company Sergeant Major but was then badly injured in September 1916. In November 1916 he was demoted to Sergeant but re-promoted in January 1917 to Company Sergeant Major and then to Second Lieutenant in September 1917. In May 1918 Second Lieutenant Thomas Ray Crooks was given an early discharge due to poor behaviour after going absent without leave for four days, however his behaviour was deemed to be connected to the injury he received in September 1916.

Details

Birth: Thomas Ray Crooks was born on the 11th of October 1884 to Martha (née Ray) and William Crooks in Hobart, Tasmania.

Religion and Occupation: Presbyterian Coachsmith.

Marriage: He was married to Edith Mary Crooks.

Enlistment: On the 3rd of December 1914 he enlisted in the A.I.F. at Liverpool, NSW.

Embarkation: Sergeant Crooks left Sydney on the 11th of February 1915 on board the HMAT Seang Bee A48.

Service Details:

• Private 3/12/14 – 31/12/14 2nd Reinforcements, 13th Battalion, 4th Brigade, A.I.F.
• Promoted Sergeant 31/12/14 – 10/3/16 13th Battalion, 4th Brigade, A.I.F.
• Admitted to Hospital with Dysentry from 21/9/15 to 10/12/15.
• Promoted Company Sergeant Major 10/3/16 – 18/11/16 Transferred to 45th Battalion, 12th Brigade, A.I.F.
• Badly wounded in action with gun shot wound to right arm on the 5/8/16. Remained in hospital until 29/9/16.
• Demoted to Sergeant 18/11/16 – 5/1/17 45th Battalion, 12th Brigade, A.I.F.
• Promoted to Company Sergeant Major 5/1/17 – 14/9/17 45th Battalion, 12th Brigade, A.I.F.
• Promoted to Second Lieutenant 14/9/17 – 23/5/18 45th Battalion, 12th Brigade, A.I.F.
• Received an early discharge on the 23/5/18 due to poor behaviour including 4 days of being absent without leave which was believed to be connected to his injury from August 1916.

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

• Also received the Military Cross for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty on 27/3/17.

Death: Thomas Ray Crooks died in 1932 in Sydney, NSW.

Sources:

http://discoveringanzacs.naa.gov.au/browse/records/91234

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1825361

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R2307011

http://archival.sl.nsw.gov.au/Details/archive/110319574

• Link to a copy of Thomas Ray Crooks War Diaries

 

Second Lieutenant Allan Benjamin John Freeman – 3517

A photograph of Allan Benjamin John Freeman in uniform. Source: http://ww1vic.gravesecrets.net/fr.html Under Freeman, Allan Benjamin John

Allan Benjamin John Freeman was born in Geelong in 1893 and attended Geelong College before becoming a Bank Clerk in Melbourne. Allan enlisted in the A.I.F. in July 1915 and was assigned to the 22nd Battalion as a Private. He was then transferred to the 58th Battalion and later promoted through the ranks to the position of Second Lieutenant.

Details

Birth: He was born on the 16th of May 1893 to Mary Brown and Thomas William Freeman in Geelong Victoria.

Siblings: Allan had one brother Neil Mackenzie Freeman who was born on the 21st of April 1890.

Religion, Education and Occupation: Presbyterian, studied at Geelong College from 1906 and worked as a Bank Clerk for the Bank of New South Wales in Collins St, Melbourne.

Enlistment: Allan Freeman enlisted in Melbourne Victoria on 31st of July 1915.

Embarkation: Allan departed Melbourne on the 5th of January 1916 on board HMAT Afric A19.

Service Details:

• Private 31/7/15 – 7/7/15 8th Reinforcements, 22nd Battalion, 2nd A.I.F. Division
• Private 7/7/16 – 18/7/17 22nd Battalion, 2nd A.I.F. Division
• Private 18/7/17 – 15/9/18 Transferred to 58th Battalion, 5th A.I.F. Division
• Promoted to Corporal 15/9/18 – 5/1/19 58th Battalion, 5th A.I.F. Division
• Promoted to Second Lieutenant 5/1/19 – 29/9/19 58th Battalion, 5th A.I.F. Division
• Discharged on the 29th September 1919 in Melbourne Victoria.

Medals: Victory Medal and British War Medal

• He was awarded the Military Medal for his action on the 2nd of September 1918

Death: Allan Freeman died in 1964.

Sources:

http://discoveringanzacs.naa.gov.au/browse/records/153296

http://gnet.geelongcollege.vic.edu.au:8080/wiki/FREEMAN-Allan-Benjamin-John-MM-1893-1964.ashx

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1753149

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R2329749

Second Lieutenant Albert Ernest Pratt

Photograph of Albert Ernest Pratt. Source: http://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/record/C122075

Birth: Albert Ernest Pratt was born in Auckland, New Zealand in 1893 to Matilda Annette Emily and Henry James Pratt. He had two sisters Alice Emily Elinor and Una Jane Gertrude.

Religion, School and Occupation: Anglican who attended Auckland Grammar School in New Zealand before becoming a clerk.

Enlistment: Albert joined up in Liverpool, NSW on the 6th of June 1915.

Embarkation: He departed Sydney NSW on the 8th of October 1915 on HMAT Warilda A69.

Service Details:

• Private 3/8/15 – 6/1/16 10th Reinforcements, 1st Battalion, 1st A.I.F. Division
• Promoted Corporal 11/1/16 – 13/2/16 1st Battalion, 1st A.I.F. Division
• Transferred Corporal 13/2/16 – 15/4/16 53rd Battalion, 14th Brigade, 5th Division
• Promoted Second Lieutenant 15/4/16 – 19/7/16 53rd Battalion, 14th Brigade, 5th Division
• Killed in Action – 19/7/16

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

Death: Albert died on the 19th of July 1916 at Fleurbaix, Fromelles, France during action. It was reported that he was in the 2nd line of German enemy trenches and was shot through the heart. He died without suffering. The position was retaken by the enemy and therefore his body was not able to be recovered.

Burial: Originally he had no known grave after the Battle of Fromelles in 1916, but in 2010 DNA testing was able to be used and identified him. He was reburied in 2010 in the Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Military Cemetery at I. E. 10.

Sources:

http://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/record/C122075

http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/589428/

http://discoveringanzacs.naa.gov.au/browse/records/279409

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1407575

Click to access RWDFromelles.pdf

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1652567

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R2391679

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1815326