The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
German flag. The flag has been screen printed with a red diamond in the middle of the flag with the letters 'H & CO' left white. The remaining fabric surrounding the red diamond has been left white, except for the corners, which have been screen printed with black triangles.
Associated with the service of John Andrew Waldron Nelson who was born on 23 March 1891 at Kiama, NSW. Before the declaration of the First World War, Nelson had been working as a manufacturer and importing agent. He enlisted for service with the Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force (ANMEF) on 12 August and was posted as a private with the service number 156 to 'A' Company of the 1st (Tropical) Battalion.
Nelson embarked with the ANMEF from Sydney on 19 August aboard HMAT A35 Berrima. After a brief stop at Palm Island, the ANMEF sailed for German New Guinea and began landing troops at Kabakaul, New Britain on 11 September. After some short, but savage fighting, the German forces surrendered and the British Flag was raised over Rabaul on 12 September. Within five days all hostilities were declared over. Following the surrender of the German Forces, Nelson became part of the garrison based at Rabaul. During his time in the islands, he obtained this flag. He returned to Australia and was discharged on 4 March 1915.
Nelson enlisted for service with the AIF on 11 May but became seriously ill with Malaria. He was discharged as medically unfit on 13 August. After recovering, he reenlisted for service with the AIF on 16 December. He was posted as a private with the service number 3683 to the 8th reinforcements to the 19th Battalion. Nelson once again embarked from Sydney aboard HMAT Berrima, this time on 17 December, 1916. After disembarking in Egypt, he spent time training, which was interrupted by two periods of hospitalisation due to illness.
Nelson embarked for England in November and was posted to Perham Downs. He was promoted to acting staff sergeant, but reverted to private when he embarked for France in June 1917. He joined 19 Battalion, which was behind the lines at Biefvillers, on June 30. The battalion spent the next few months training. On 11 August, Nelson was evacuated sick with Malaria. He remained in hospital until the beginning of November, when he was pronounced fit.
He returned to the 19th Battalion on 7 November, which at that time was in the Ypres area at Steenvoorde. Nelson's return to the Battalion was short lived, as the following day he was diagnosed with Nephritis, which caused him to be evacuated to England. He remained hospitalised until January 1918. Nelson spent the majority of 1918 serving in training units as an instructor or being ill in hospital. He was in hospital when the war ended on 11 November.
After being discharged from hospital in February 1919, he applied for and was granted leave to attend an art and design course in London. During this period, he met Inez Josephine Wyborn. The two moved in together shortly after.
Nelson asked for and was granted an extension to his leave to continue his course in early September and on 27 September, He and Inez were married. On 1 November, he reported back for duty and sailed for Australia, with his bride, on 15 November. He was discharged from the AIF in Sydney on 20 March 1920.
The Nelsons settled in Lindfield, NSW and on 10 November 1922, their son Rupert Llandels Waldron Nelson was born. Rupert was a student at University when the Second World War was declared. He enlisted for service at Parkes, NSW on 14 September 1942. He had served in the CMF and after joining the AIF, he was posted as a Lieutenant to 2/33 Battalion. He became the commander of 15 Platoon. Rupert Nelson was killed on 6 July 1945 during a reconnaissance of Japanese positions on Balikpapan.
John Nelson died in 1965.
Imperial German flag which consists of horizontal black,white and red stripes, with the white stripe expanding to a roundel in the centre. The flag is finely screen printed and the centre of the round
Imperial German flag which consists of horizontal black,white and red stripes, with the white stripe expanding to a roundel in the centre. The centre is adorned with the Imperial German eagle in black
Imperial German flag which consists of horizontal black,white and red stripes, with the white stripe expanding to a roundel in the centre. The flag is finely screen printed and the centre of the round
1914-15 Star, impressed on the reverse with recipient's details. Associated with the service of Private 5776 James William Hodges McCullough who was born in 1894, in Redfern, Sydney. McCullough serv
Horizontally striped black,white and red Imperial German flag, with white stripe expanding to a roundel in the centre. The flag is finely screen printed and the centre of the roundel contains a crowne
Small silver medal awarded as a shooting prize. Obverse shows profile head of Albert, King of Saxony, and the words 'Albert Von G.G. Koenig Von Sachsen'. Reverse reads 'Dem Besten Schutzen' [for the b
