Portrait of 4240 Acting Corporal Richard Anacletus Nelson, 10th Battalion from Murray Bridge, ...

Portrait of 4240 Acting Corporal Richard Anacletus Nelson, 10th Battalion from Murray Bridge, South Australia. A 22 year old locomotive cleaner prior to enlisting on 11 August 1915, he embarked for overseas with the 13th Reinforcements of the 10th Battalion from Adelaide on 11 January 1916 aboard HMAT Borda. Shortly after arriving in Egypt, he transferred to the 50th Battalion and reverted to the rank of Private. However, he was soon promoted to Corporal on 12 March 1916 and after arriving in France, was promoted to Lance Sergeant on 15 July 1916 and to Sergeant on 4 August 1916. He was wounded in action at Vignacourt, France on 7 November 1916 and evacuated to England for medical treatment. On recovery, he re-joined the 50th Battalion in Belgium on 12 September 1917 and was awarded a Military Medal for bravery in operations near Zonnebeke on 26 September 1917. After being promoted to Second Lieutenant on 10 October 1917, he attended a bombing school near Albert, France and was accidentally killed while gathering unexploded bombs on an old battlefield. Second Lieutenant Nelson is buried in the Dernancourt Communal Cemetery Extension, France.