Nielson, Norman Joseph
SURNAME
Nielson
NAME
Norman Joseph
PLACE OF BIRTH
Ocean Grove, Victoria
OCCUPATION
Surveyor
PLACE OF ENLISTMENT
Brisbane
DATE OF ENLISTMENT
13-10-1916
NEXT OF KIN
Mrs Annie Nielson (mother), Mossman
LINK TO DOUGLAS SHIRE
Family farm, Mossman
REGIMENT 1
6th Field Company Engineers
REGIMENT 2
4th Pioneer Battalion
RANK
Lance Corporal
CAMPAIGN 1
Western Front
OTHER INFORMATION
Embarked HMAT Ayrshire 24 -01-17; 6th Field Company Engineers, 4th Pioneer Battalion. Awarded the 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
STORY OUTLINE
Norman Joseph Nielson was a son of George and Annie Nielson who owned a cane farm adjacent to Mossman town.
Norman enlisted at age 25 in October 1916.
His brother Gerald, a year older, had enlisted in January of that year.
As a surveyor, he was appointed to the 6th Field Engineers.
He departed Australia on the 'Ayrshire' in January 1917 and disembarked at Fovant 12th April, a Sapper.
He was gassed in July 1918 and hospitalised in Rouen. He embarked for return to Australia on 19 February 1919. Norman is not listed on the Shire Honour Board though his brother Gerald is. He was listed on the Mossman State School Honour Board:
"There was a special unveiling of the School Honour Board by Mr Chas Crees (Chairman of the School Committee). After the Honour Board was unveiled, Mr George Nielson whose two sons aoppeared on the board, addressed the children".
(The Northern Herald of 30 July 1919)
SERVICE NO
3595
