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Nov 27, 1884
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Born in Falkirk, Scotland
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Nov 6, 1914
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Attested into the 21st Battalion in Kingston, Ontario
Ø Number 59742 (temporary number 826)
Ø Next of kin given as Christina Nelson, wife, Port Hope, Ontario
Ø Previous occupation given as Iron Moulder
Ø Previous military experience given as Argyll & Sutherland
Highlanders, Militia
Ø Religion given as Presbyterian
Ø Posted to “G” Company
o This was later reorganized into “D” Company
o A member of the Pipe Band and in combat, employed as a Stretcher
Bearer
The 21st Battalion trained in the Kingston, Ontario
area through the winter of 1914-15.
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May 6, 1915
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Embarked the RMS Metagama in Montreal, Quebec
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May 15, 1915
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Disembarked in Devonport, England and the
battalion proceeded to the West Sandling Camp, near Hythe, Kent to continue
training
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Sep 14, 1915
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Embarked the St. Seiriol in Folkestone
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Sep 15, 1915
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Disembarked in Boulogne, France and the battalion
proceeded to St. Omer
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Jan 11, 1916
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Admitted to the No. 5 CFA (Canadian Field
Ambulance) with a diagnosis that reads Cystitis.
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Jan 12, 1916
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Transferred to the Division Rest Station at
Godewaersvelde, France, near the Belgian border
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Jan 22, 1916
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Discharged to duty from the rest station
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Nov 6, 1916
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Awarded the Good Conduct Badge
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Jan 18, 1917
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Granted 10 days leave
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Dec 14, 1917
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Granted 14 days leave
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Jan 6, 1918
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Rejoined the battalion from leave
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Nov 28, 1918
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Granted 14 days leave
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Dec 23, 1918
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On completion of his leave, he arrived back in
France and joined the CC Rein C (Canadian Corps Reinforcement Camp) in Aubin
St. Vaast
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Jan 8, 1919
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After leaving the reinforcement camp, Private
Nelson rejoined the 21st Battalion in Neunkirchen, Germany
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Apr 3, 1919
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Embarked the Western Australia in Havre, France
On arrival in England, he was attached to the “P”
Wing in Witley pending return to Canada
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May 14, 1919
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Embarked the SS Caronia in Liverpool
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May 22, 1919
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Disembarked in Halifax, Nova Scotia and proceeded
to Kingston, Ontario by train
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May 24, 1919
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Discharged from the CEF in Kingston, Ontario
Ø Rank on discharge Private
Ø War Service Badge Class “A”
issued number 277527
Ø Proposed residence on
discharge 154 Union St., Kingston, Ontario
He was discharged to the care of the SCR (Soldier
Civil Re-establishment) Department and employed at the Royal Military College
in Kingston. One of his duties there
was the care of Nan, the mascot of the 21st Battalion
Following his discharge, the 1914-15 Star,
British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to him at 154 Union St.,
Kingston, Ontario
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The Prince of
Wales (the future King Edward VIII) visited Kingston
and was introduced to Nan and her escort Scotty Nelson
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Jun 18, 1919
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Admitted to the Sydenham Street Military Hospital
in Kingston with a diagnosis that reads Lumbago
On admission he complained of back pain that
radiated down his legs. He states that
his sleep is disturbed 3 or 4 times per night to empty his bladder.
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Nov 13, 1919
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Discharged from hospital
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Jun 5, 1960
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William Alexander Nelson died while a patient of
the Sunnybrook Veterans Hospital in Toronto, Ontario and was buried in the
Union Cemetery, Port Hope, Ontario
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