David Nelson (VC)

David Nelson
David Nelson
Born	3 April 1886; Stranooden, County Monaghan, Ireland
Died	8 April 1918 (aged 32); Lillers, France
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Years of service	1904 - 1918
Rank	Major
Unit	Royal Artillery
Commands held	D Battery, 59th Brigade
Battles/wars	World War I †
Awards	Victoria Cross

Major David Nelson VC (3 April 1886 – 8 April 1918) was an Irish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Military career

Nelson was born Deraghland, Stranooden, County Monaghan, Ireland. He was 28 years old, and a sergeant in 'L' Battery, Royal Horse Artillery (RHA), British Army during World War I when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 1 September 1914 at Néry, France, Sergeant Nelson helped to bring the guns into action - with an officer (Edward Kinder Bradbury) and a warrant officer (George Thomas Dorrell) - under heavy fire and in spite of being severely wounded. He remained with the guns until all the ammunition was expended, although he had been ordered to retire to cover.^[1]

Nelson later achieved the rank of major. He was killed in action at Lillers, France, on 8 April 1918.

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Imperial War Museum, London, England.

References

^ "No. 28976". The London Gazette. 13 November 1914. p. 9374.

Listed in order of publication year

The Register of the Victoria Cross (1981, 1988 and 1997)
Clarke, Brian D. H. (1986). "A register of awards to Irish-born officers and men". The Irish Sword. XVI (64): 185–287.
Ireland's VCs ISBN 1-899243-00-3 (Dept of Economic Development, 1995)
Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
Irish Winners of the Victoria Cross (Richard Doherty & David Truesdale, 2000)

External links

Dictionary of Ulster Biography

[1] "No. 28976". The London Gazette. 13 November 1914. p. 9374.

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