245311 Pte. James Nelson British Army 20th Btn. A Coy. Durham Light Infantry from:2 Fairfalls Terrace, New Brancepeth Colliery, County Durham (d.28th July 1917) Born to a large family, James Nelson was the eldest son, aged 38 when he died. He served with the 20th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry and was killed in action on the 28th July 1917 at Fusilier Wood in the Ypres salient,leaving a wife and family at home. James has no known grave but is commemorated on the Menin Gate. He was killed at the same time as Second Lieutenant Arthur Rhys Willis and 4 others and the officer has a grave at Dickebusch New Military Cemetery Extension Grave. According to regimental records these people were killed by artillery fire and its my guess that whatever remains there were, are probably all together in this grave. His brother John Robert was the youngest son, aged 18 when he died. He served with the 2nd/5th Battalion of the Lincolnshire Regiment. I've tried for years to locate him and in the end an old friend of mine who happens to be an expert saved the day. He was killed in action on 29th April 1918 and is buried at Klein-Vierstraat British Cemetery which is only 1.9km from Dickebusch and 10km from the Menin Gate.
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