Nelson, Samuel
Rifleman
No. 14/6917, 2nd Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles
Died of wounds on Saturday 20 July 1918 (aged 27)
Buried:
Esquelbecq Military Cemetery, France (Grave III. E. 27)
Commemorated:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Bangor and District War Memorial
Comrades of the Great War (Bangor Branch) Album in North Down Museum
Royal British Legion (Bangor Branch) Memorial Plaque
Journey of Remembering Belfast Book of Honour
BIOGRAPHY
Samuel Nelson was born on 11 September 1890 in New Street, Bangor and he was a son of William John and Annabella (Isabella) Nelson (nee Ditty, born in Co Londonderry) who were married on 1 April 1887 in First Bangor Presbyterian Church.
The Nelson family lived in Fisher’s Hill, Bangor and at 102 Ballymagee Street (now High Street), Bangor.
William John Nelson worked as a labourer and agent and he and Annabella had four children:
William James (born 20 August 1888 in Fisher’s Hill, Bangor)
Samuel (born 11 September 1890 in New Street, Bangor)
Campbell (born 7 June 1892 in Burnside, Bangor)
John (born 14 February 1895 in Ballymagee Street, Bangor; died of pertussis 10 November 1895)
Samuel Nelson served his apprenticeship with George Ardrey and Company (Boot Warehouse) Main Street, Bangor and he lived for four years in South Africa. He was a member of Loyal Orange Lodge (LOL) No. 933 in Bangor and prior to the outbreak of the Great War he worked for Messrs John Robb and Company (Department Store) Castle Place, Belfast.
Samuel Nelson joined the Young Citizen Volunteers, he enlisted in Belfast and joined the 14th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles.
Samuel Nelson and Madge Horner Millar were married on 20 September 1915 in Hamilton Road Presbyterian Church Bangor. Madge was a daughter of William Millar, an engine driver.
During the Great War Rifleman Samuel Nelson served with the 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Rifles and on 4 October 1915, two weeks after he got married, he went to the Front with the British Expeditionary Force (BEF). He was 27 when he died of wounds on 20 July 1918 and he was buried in Esquelbecq Military Cemetery, Nord, France.
His widow Madge lived at 22 Thorndyke Street, Belfast.
Rifleman Samuel Nelson (No. 14/6917) is commemorated on Bangor and District War Memorial; in the Comrades of the Great War (Bangor Branch) Album in North Down Museum (Page 41); on the Royal British Legion (Bangor Branch) Memorial Plaque and in the Belfast Book of Honour (Page 503).