Pte 27303 Samuel Nelson

• Age: 23
• From: Douglas I.O.M
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
• K.I.A Sunday 30th July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

Samuel Nelson was born in Douglas, Isle of Man on 12th March 1893 the son of John James Nelson and his wife Margaret Amelia (nee Kneale) who were married on the 11th June 1892 in Braddan. Samuel had a younger brother John William, born in 1896 and known as William. 

In 1901 the family are living at 7 Athol Street, Douglas. His father is aged 35, an electric train driver, mother Margaret is 30, Samuel is 8 and William 5. 

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 5 Farrant Street, Conchan, Isle of Man.

His father, John James is aged 46, born in 1865 in Marlew, isle of Man, his occupation is declared as a motor man for the M.E.R. Co. (Manx Electric Railway), whilst his mother, Margaret Amelia is aged 48, born 1863 in Whitehaven, Cumbria. They have been married for nineteen years and have two children, Samuel aged 18, born 1893 an ironmonger’s apprentice and William aged 15, born 1896 is an errand boy and both children were born in Douglas, Isle of Man. 

Samuel enlisted in Liverpool joining the 19th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 27303. (Service numbers 27301 and 27308 enlisted in April 1915) 

He was killed in action on the 30^th July 1916, aged 23, at the village of Guillemont, France, during the Somme Offensive.

19^th Battalion Diary 30^th July 1916

MALTZ HORN FARM

BATTLE begun. ZERO hour 4:45 am. The Battalion reached its objective, but suffered heavy losses, and had to evacuate its position owing to no reinforcements.

Everard Wyrall gives details of the attack in his book The History of The King’s Regiment; 

"The 2nd Attack on Guillemont- 29th July 1916 the 89th Brigade the 20th King's were to attack on the right and the 19th on the left. During the evening of the 29th the night was dark and foggy when the Battalions moved off and the 19th with Lt Col G Rollo commanding, when passing the South east of the Briqueterie they were heavily shelled first with H E and then with a new kind of asphyxiating Gas shell which had curious results, at first it had no nasty effect but about 8 hrs later men began to fall sick with violent headaches and pains in the stomach. All ranks had to wear gas masks which in the darkness and mist made the going terribly difficult. It was indeed wonderful that they were able to reach their Assembly point at all. But they did and by 2.45 a.m. on the 30th July 1916 the Btn was assembled having suffered about 30 Casualties on the way up ready for the Zero hour at 4.45 a.m.

It is known that the two left Companies of the 19th under Capt. Dodd and Capt. Nicholson advanced in touch with the 2nd Royal Scots Fusiliers on their left although they suffered many casualties from Machine gun Fire did not encounter many Germans and reached their final objective about the time allocated, beginning at once to dig in south of the orchard on the South east corner of Guillemont.  

On the left of the 19th the Scots Fusiliers most gallantly forced their way through Guillemont to the eastern side of the village but were soon overwhelmed by the enemy and few returned. 

At 8 a.m. finding that the village was not held the two left Companies of the 19th received no word from the rear or either flank believed themselves to be totally isolated so were forced to fall back and dig in, their position being untenable.

At midday the effective fighting strength of the 19th Btn was just 7 Officers and 43 other ranks" 

When darkness fell on the battlefield the 30^th Division held a line from the railway on the eastern side of Trones Wood , southwards and including Arrow Head Copse, to east of Maltz Horn Farm. On this line the division was relieved by the 55^th Division during the early hours of the 31^st July.

Casualties in the 19^th Battalion were 11 Officers and 435 Other Ranks 

The events of 30^th July 1916 were regarded at the time as Liverpool’s blackest day. There follows an extract from The History of the 89^th Brigade written by Brigadier General Ferdinand Stanley which gives an indication of the events of the day.

Guillemont

Well the hour to advance came, and of all bad luck in the world it was a thick fog; so thick that you couldn’t see more than about ten yards. It was next to impossible to delay the attack – it was much too big an operation- so forward they had to go. It will give some idea when I say that on one flank we had to go 1,750 yards over big rolling country. Everyone knows what it is like to cross enclosed country which you know really well in a fog and how easy it is to lose your way. Therefore, imagine these rolling hills, with no landmarks and absolutely unknown to anyone. Is it surprising that people lost their way and lost touch with those next to them? As a matter of fact, it was wonderful the way in which many men found their way right to the place we wanted to get to. But as a connected attack it was impossible.

The fog was intense it was practically impossible to keep direction and parties got split up. Owing to the heavy shelling all the Bosches had left their main trenches and were lying out in the open with snipers and machine guns in shell holes, so of course our fellows were the most easy prey.

It is so awfully sad now going about and finding so many splendid fellows gone. 

Samuel was initially declared Missing, reported in the Mona’s Herald on 06th September 1916:

“Private Samuel Nelson of 5, Farrant Street, Douglas, is reported as missing after an engagement on 30th July.  Private Nelson served his time as an ironmonger under Mr. W. J. Corlett of Nelson Street and afterwards at Liverpool.  He joined in April 1915 and left for France in March last.  His only brother is at present serving in France.  He was a comrade of Private S. H. Christian, now a prisoner of war, and  Private Arthur Lawson, reported wounded.”

Samuel was initially declared Missing, reported in the Mona’s Herald on 06th September 1916:  

“Private Samuel Nelson of 5, Farrant Street, Douglas, is reported as missing after an engagement on 30th July.  Private Nelson served his time as an ironmonger under Mr. W. J. Corlett of Nelson Street and afterwards at Liverpool.  He joined in April 1915 and left for France in March last.  His only brother is at present serving in France.  He was a comrade of Private S. H. Christian, now a prisoner of war, and  Private Arthur Lawson, reported wounded.” 

After nine months of anguish, his parents were notified in April 1917 that Samuel had been officially declared killed in action. 

Liverpool Daily Post - Tuesday 01 May 1917 

PREVIOUSLY REPORTED MISSING, NOW 

REPORTED KILLED.  

King’s(Liverpool Regt) - Nelson, 27303, S. (Douglas);   

Samuel's body was not recovered from the battlefield or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme.

The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Over 90% of those commemorated died between July and November 1916. 

On 01st August 1932 the Prince of Wales and the President of France inaugurated the Thiepval Memorial in Picardy. The inscription reads: “Here are recorded the names of officers and men of the British Armies who fell on the Somme battlefields between July 1915 and March 1918 but to whom the fortune of war denied the known and honoured burial given to their comrades in death.”

His Army pay and a War Gratuity of £5 went to his mother. 

Further tragedy struck the parents the following year when their surviving child William was killed in action with the 21st Manchesters on 25th October 1917, aged 21.  Like Samuel, William has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial to the Missing, Ypres.

The local newspaper reported on William’s death,

“Particular sorrow attaches to the casualty in that Pte. Nelson’s elder brother, Pte. Samuel Nelson, was killed in action in France on 30th July last year.  Mr. and Mrs. Nelson have given their all in the great cause, and Manx folk at home and abroad will sympathise with them in their tragic and double bereavement.”

His parents received a pension of 15/- a week for both sons.

On the second anniversary of Samuel’s death In Memoriam notices were placed in the Isle of Man Times:

“In loving memory of Pte. Samuel Nelson, K.L.R. (Pals), killed in action on 30th July, 1916 at the Battle of the Somme.  Fondly remembered by May Turner and her parents.”

“In loving remembrance of Samuel Nelson, K.L.R. (Pals), who was killed July 30th, 1916, late of 5 Farrant Street, Douglas. - Fondly remembered by all at 64 Grierson Street, Liverpool.”

On the anniversary of William’s death in 1918 his parents placed a notice in the Isle of Man Times:

“In sad but loving remembrance of our second and dearly-loved son, Pte. W. Nelson, 21st Manchester Regt., who was killed in action in France on the 25th Oct., 1917, aged 21 years; also our dearly beloved eldest son, Pte. S. Nelson, killed in action in France on July 30th, 1916, aged 23 years.

  No pen can write, nor tongue can tell,

    Our sad and bitter loss,

  But Thou, o Lord, has helped us well

    To bear the heavy cross.

- Will be ever missed by their loving father and mother. - 5, Farrant Street.”

Samuel and William are both commemorated on the following Memorials:

Douglas Civic Memorial

Douglas Borough Library

St Marys Parishioners, WW1 Roll Of Honour, Douglas, Isle Of Man

St Thomas Parishioners, WW1 Memorial Chapel, Douglas, Isle Of Man.

His mother died on the 28th April 1937 aged 73, still living in Farrant Street.  

Isle of Man Times, Saturday, April 30, 1938 

In Memoriam. 

NELSON.—In loving memory of my dear wife, who died April 28th, 1937; also Privates Samuel and William Nelson, killed in action in France.  

Though their smiles are gone for ever, 

And their voices we cannot hear,  

We shall never lose sweet memories  

Of the ones we loved so dear. —(Always remembered by husband and father, 5, Farrant Street, Douglas.) 

His father died in hospital on the 12th Jan 1959 at the age of 92. 

Isle of Man Times, Friday, January 16, 1959 

NELSON.—On January 12th, 1959, at Noble's Hospital, John James, aged 92 years, beloved husband of the late Margaret Amelia Nelson, of Douglas. Interred at the Borough Cemetery on Thursday, January 15th. 

We currently have no further information on Samuel Nelson, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.