BX February 4, 1915

While Fighting for His Country – Word Received of the Death of Lieutenant Norman Cummings Nelles, Formerly of Brantford

News of the death of Lieutenant Norman Cummings Nelles, son of Lieutenant Colonel and Mrs. Charles M. Nelles of Niagara-on-the-Lake, and formerly of Brantford, was received yesterday in a cable from Lieutenant Colonel Nelles, who is with the Canadian Expeditionary Force at Salisbury Plain. Lieutenant Nelles, who resided with his family for many years on Dufferin Avenue and later on Albion Street, before entering on a military career, was a cadet of the Royal Military College, Kingston, and was given a commission in the North Hampshire Fusiliers last November.

The message, which was received by Harton Walker of Toronto, a cousin of Mrs. Nelles, contained no details, merely announcing the death of Lieutenant Nelles, but it was known this his regiment had gone into action on December 20th last. Lieut. Nelles was one of the second year cadets of the Royal Military College, who were given commissions instead of being required to proceed with their third year’s training, and he left for England about the end of October. He had celebrated his 19th birthday since going to the front and since the departure of his family from Brantford some ten or twelve years ago; he had made a number of brief visits to his former home. His brother, Percy, who is also well known to many Brantfordites, is at the present time serving in His Majesty’s service in the navy.

Mrs. Charles Nelles, the mother of Lieut. Nelles, to whom the sympathy of a host of friends in this city will go out in her irreparable loss, was a visitor in Brantford about two weeks ago. Mrs. Cummings Nelles is a grandmother of the deceased, and Alfred Wilkes a cousin.

Honored Memory of Those Who Died For King and Country

The members of the City Council last night showed their appreciation of the loyalty and devotion of the Brantford boys, who have already given their lives in the service of the Empire and their sympathy with the bereaved families when they passed resolutions in connection with the death of Lieut. Nelles, who was fatally wounded while leading his company in a gallant charge on the battlefield in Northern France. The Resolutions which express the feelings of all citizens follow:

Lieutenant Norman Cummings Nelles

Moved by T.E. Ryerson; seconded by R. Welsh:

“That the members of the Brantford City Council deeply deplore the death of the late Lieut. Nelles, a Brantford boy, son of Col. C.M. and Mrs. Nelles, and whose father and brother are also now at the front. At the same time, they in common with the bereaved family, take pride in the fact that he fell nobly while bravely leading his men in a trench attack in France and that his name is enrolled in the honor list of those who died fighting for country and a just cause.

“That the clerk be instructed to forward a copy of this resolution to his bereaved father and mother and to Mrs. Cummings Nelles of this city, the sorrowing grandmother.” – Carried

John H. Spence
Mayor