Nelson Sing
Born in 1897 in Launceston, Tasmania, Nelson James Sing was the son of Percy Sing and Annie Parish. He worked as a boat builder before enlisting for service in 1915. As he was under the age of 21, his father gave permission for him to enlist. He was assigned to reinforcements to the 26th Battalion.
After departing Melbourne aboard HMAT Orsova in July 1915, Nelson served on Gallipoli in the later stages of the campaign. In early 1916 his battalion was sent to France. In August, he suffered a gunshot wound to his leg. He was evacuated to the 3rd Auxiliary Hospital in England and discharged several months later to Command Depot No. 2 in Weymouth.
In 1917, while Nelson was in Weymouth, he met and married Ada Collins. She was 22, and lived in Wyke Regis in southern Dorset. In January 1918, their daughter Muriel Vera was born.
Nelson rejoined his battalion in France in late July 1918 and took part in the Hundred Days Offensive, a series of allied attacks that pushed the Germans back in the last few months of the war. On 3 October, Nelson was operating at Montbrehain in Australia’s final action of the war. He was hit by machine-gun fire and killed. He was 21 years old. His remains buried in Beaurevoir Communal Cemetery.
Ada received notification of his death approximately one month before the Armistice. She remarried in 1919 and moved to Australia with Muriel and her new husband. There they welcomed more children into their family.
In 1921, Nelson’s father contacted the authorities to ask for Nelson’s service medals, writing: “he was my only son, and I would like to have them in remembrance of him.” However, the medals were received by Ada, as she was Nelson’s widow and next of kin.
Nelson's name is located on panel 109 on the Roll of Honour at the Australian War Memorial.