Walter Sinclair Nelson
Stephen LearmonthWally Nelson had survived four years of war and the tragic death of a young child. He had started his own business, the Nelson Australian Products Pty Ltd, an import-export business, situated at 397-399 Little Collins Street, in Melbourne. Some time in September of 1947, Wally passed away at the Heidleberg Repatriation Hospital. It’s not known why Wally passed away at the relatively young age of 35. His cremated remains were interred at the Fawkner Crematorium on the outskirts of Melbourne. In the space of seven months, Norma (his wife) had lost a son and a husband.
Walter Sinclair Nelson was born at 172 Finborough Road, London, on the 7th of April, 1912. Walter’s father, Gordon, had not long been appointed in charge of the parish of St Bartholomew’s in Islington, London. Gordon had brought his new wife, Isabel Geddes (née Bant), to England the previous year. On the 12th of May, 1913, the young family returned home to Australia and Gordon became the rector at Yarrawonga. He would also serve in parishes at Euroa, Benalla and Kilmore. There would be one more addition to the Nelson family when another son, George Vincent Nelson, was born in early May of 1916.
From the age of twelve, Wally attended the Euroa Higher Elementary School, followed by three years at Trinity Grammar in Kew. He achieved the A Class Internal Certificate at Kew, passing Arithmetic, Algebra, English History, Geography and Chemistry. Wally chose not to follow his father’s footsteps into the ministry, but joined the Bank of Australasia as a bank clerk. In the late 1930’s and early 40’s he worked at branches at Yackandandah and Walwa. Apart from his banking duties, he was also a member of the 58th Militia Battalion.
He enlisted in the RAAF on the 19th of July, 1941, at the No. 1 Recruiting Centre in Melbourne, being allocated the Official Number 409185. He was initially listed as training for aircrew and undertook his training at No. 1 Initial Training School at Somers on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula. By July of 1942, his accounting skills had been noticed and he had been remustered as a pay clerk. In 1942, Wally married Norma Mary McDermont.
At the end of January, 1943, Wally embarked on a troopship with other members of the RAAF and headed for the Middle East. He was posted to RAAF Headquarters, Middle East. In July of 1943, Wally and Norma’s first child, a son Frank, was born. During his time overseas he was attached to a number of units, including 459 and 451 Squadrons and No. 22 Personnel Transit Centre. On the 1st of March, 1945, he was promoted from Corporal to Sergeant. Wally arrived back in Australia in November of 1945 and immediately applied for his discharge.
Prior to his enlistment, Wally had a wish to eventually enter into the world of commerce and build up an import-export business. While serving overseas in the Middle East he was able to make valuable contacts that would assist him in supplying materials for import. As soon as he arrived back in Australia he registered his company “Nelson Australian Products”. He obtained the use of office space from Messrs Manning & Watson & Co, chartered accountants, at 397-399 Little Collins Street in Melbourne. In his compassionate transfer application, Wally stressed that Australia must not lose valuable time in trying to secure world export markets. As Wally had no posting pending, the RAAF granted him an early demobilisation.
Wally and Norma’s second son, Brian was born around September of 1946. With a growing business, a home in North Balwyn and two young sons, Wally and Norma were looking forward to a prosperous future. Tragedy struck the family on the first day of February of 1947 when, returning to their car after they had eaten lunch, Wally and Norma found their 51/2 month old son, Brian, on the back floor of the car, dead. His cremated remains were scattered in the Fawkner Memorial Park.
It’s not known what happened to Wally and Norma between February and September of 1947. We don’t know why Wally was admitted to hospital. His service records do not mention any illnesses or predispositions that may have caused him to become ill after returning to Australia. Sometime after Wally’s death, Norma remarried.
Wally is remembered on the Tallangatta War Memorial. For his service, Wally was awarded the the Africa Star, the Defence Medal, the War Medal 1939-1945 and the Australian Service Medal 1939-1945.
