| Regimental number | 18695 |
| Date of birth | |
| Place of birth | Kilrea, Ireland |
| Religion | Presbyterian |
| Occupation | Bushman |
| Marital status | Single |
| Age at embarkation | 43 |
| Height | 6' 4" |
| Weight | 176 lbs |
| Next of kin | Friend, Robert Crarer, Frasertown, Hawke's Bay |
| Previous military service | Served in the 43rd Inniskillen Dragoons, British Army (Boer War); not serving in any military unit at time of NZEF enlistment. |
| Enlistment date | |
| Place of enlistment | Trentham |
| Rank on embarkation | Rifleman |
| Enlistment status | Volunteer |
| Unit name | New Zealand Expeditionary Force, New Zealand Rifle Brigade, 9th Reinforcements to 2nd Battalion, F Company |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Wellington on |
| Final rank | Rifleman |
| Final unit | 1st Battalion, New Zealand Rifle Brigade |
| Fate | Killed in Action |
| Place of burial | No known grave |
| Commemoration details | Tyne Cot Memorial (New Zealand Apse, Panel 7), Belgium |
| Miscellaneous information from cemetery records | Parents: Mr & Mrs George Nelson, Nen Street, Oamaru |
| Other details |
War service: Western Front Embarked Wellington, 25 July 1916; disembarked Devonport, England, v3 October 1916, and marched into Sling Camp. Proceeded overseas to France, 20 October 1916; joined 1st Bn, NZ Rifle Brigade, in the field, 4 November 1916, and posted to D Company. Detached on duty to 1st Australian Casualty Clearing Station, 9 January 1917; rejoined unit, 21 January 1917. Found guilty, 11 August 1917, of being absent from working party: deprived of 14 days' pay (gross). Killed in action, 12 October 1917. Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal |
| Sources | Nominal Roll Vol. 2: Roll 37, p. 16 Archives New Zealand (Wellington), Agency AABK, Series 18805, File 21379773. File also includes papers of 10/1304 David NELSON. |