| Rank | Private |
| Service # | 54356 |
| Unit # | 1st, Canadian Infantry (Western Ontario Regiment), 18th Bn. |
| Resident | Chatham |
Regimental number: 54356 Reference: RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 7271 – 56, Item: 558682, PDF: B7271-SO56. Date of Birth 22/09/1896 at Gatehouse 9 Fleet, Scotland. N of K: Elizabeth Nelson of Scotland. A single labourer. 1 ½ years in the Territorials in UK. Living in Chatham. Attestation: 30/01/1915 at Chatham, ON. Found on Roll of Honour First Presbyterian Church, Chatham, ON.
Age: 18 yrs. 4 mths., Height: 5’ 4”, Girth; 35 ½ “ Complexion: Dark, Eyes: Brown, Hair: Black. Medical 30/01/15 at Chatham, ON. Next of Kin: – Mrs. Nelson, Milson Square, Gatehouse, Scotland. Next of Kin: – Elizabeth Nelson. Labourer, Single, Attestation: 30/01/15 18th Bn. date of service: – 14/09/15.
Arrived in England, 29/04/15. Disembarked – France 15/09/15 at Boulogne. to 33rd Bn. at Shorncliffe. AWL docked one day forfeit Pay. 18/09/15 overseas from Folkstone.
Private Nelson transferred from the 33rd battalion to the 18th shortly after enlistment, arriving in England in May 1915. He trained at Sandling Camp until Sept. 1915 when he proceeded to France drafted to the 1st battalion.
Oct. 13, 1915, in the trenches, while walking, during supper, he was instantly killed by shrapnel falling across his brother’s dead body.
NELSON, Initials: T, Nationality: Canadian Rank: Private Regiment/Service: Canadian Infantry (Western Ontario Regiment) Unit Text: 18th Bn. KIA, Date of Death: 13/10/1915 Service No: 54356
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: II. I. 4. Cemetery: RIDGE WOOD MILITARY CEMETERY, 11.1.4. His brother William (54340 was KIA on the same day as Thomas and both served in the 18th Bn. It appears that their mother Elizabeth also died.
Memorial Cross: Memorial Scroll 7/12/20 and Memorial Plaque 26/07/21.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
| Sources | FPC-RH, RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 7271 – 56, LAC, CVWM |
| Supplemental Information | KIA, Date of Death: 13/10/1915 Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: II. I. 4. Cemetery: RIDGE WOOD MILITARY CEMETERY. |
| Height | 5'4" |
| Eye Colour | Brown |
| Age | 18 yrs. 4 mths. |
| Complexion | Dark |
| Hair | Black |
| Race | white |
| Birthplace | 22/09/1896 at Gatehouse 9 Fleet, Scotland |
| Religion | Prebysterian |
| Last Place of Employment | J.B. McKinley, Chatham |
| Average Earnings | 175/yr |
| Marital Status | single |
| When Enlisted | Jan. 1915 |
| Where Enlisted | Chatham ON |
| Next of Kin | Elizabeth Nelson of Scotland. |
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