Contributed by Ron Inglis, April 2022:
Produce Merchant Thomas Hill Nelson was in the AIF for four months and 17 days. When he enlisted in Sydney on 7 January 1915, he declared his age as ’23 years 6 months’ and he nominated his mother, Mary Nelson C/- Police Station Hornsby, as his next-of-kin. Thomas' father was a police officer stationed at Hornsby, with connections to the Auburn Presbyterian Church. For previous military experience, Thomas declared he had 18 months 19th Infantry (Hornsby).
Lance Corporal Nelson embarked on the Seang Bee in Sydney on 11 February 1915. There is no indication in his service record when he arrived in Egypt, nor when he was shipped on to Gallipoli. In the early days of the war, especially in the chaotic early days on Gallipoli, record keeping was difficult and there are a number of gaps in some soldiers’ records. Thomas was on Gallipoli for a little over a month when he received a gunshot wound to his abdomen, chest and buttock on 15 May 1915. He was taken to the Greek Hospital in Alexandria in Egypt, where he died on 24 May 1915. Thomas was buried in the Alexandria (Chatby) Military and War Memorial Cemetery, in which lie 2259 First World War casualties.
Thomas Nelson is honoured on the following memorials in Australia:
- Hornsby District War Memorial
- Auburn Presbyterian Church First World War Honour Roll
- Auburn Presbyterian Church First World War Memorial Window
- Roll of Honour Australian War Memorial Canberra