This memorial can be found inside St. Olave's church in Ramsey.
The memorial is for Captian John Bell Nelson M.C. who was killed in action in Palestine on 22 September 1918.
The memorial is made of brass mounted on a wooden base, and is inthe form of a Celtic Cross above three step tablet which have an inscription which reads as follows:
'SACRED
TO THE MEMORY
CAPTAIN JOHN BELL NELSON M.C.
125 NAPIER RIFLES I.A.
PREVIOUSLY 9TH ROYAL LANCERS,2/5 AND 1/6 DEVONS,
YOUNGEST AND DEARLY LOVED SON OF
MR. AND MRS. C. B. NELSON OF THIS PARISH,
WHO FELL IN PALESTINE MORTALLY WOUNDED
IN THE BATTLE OF SAMARIA AT BEIT LID
SEPT.20TH 1918 DIED AT TUL KERAM ON SEPT. 22ND
AGED 24 YEARS. RE-BURIED JULY 13TH 1919 IN
GRAVE R.39 RAMELM MILITARY CEMETERY
"AND HE WAS NOT FOR GOD TOOK HIM"'
Reproduce below are two contemporary newspaper article reporting the death of Capt. Nelson:
Isle of Man Times. Saturday, September 28, 1918, Page2
'KILLED
Lieut. J. B. Nelson, M.C.
We greatly regret to announce the death of Lieut. John B. Nelson, of the Napier Rifles, who was killed in the victorious fighting in Palestine this week. Telegraphic new to this effect was received by his father, Mr. C. B. Nelson, advocate, of Ramsey, on Wednesday Lieut. Nelson, who enlisted in 1914, was previously articled to the Attorney-General, and promised to be an excellent member of the Manx Bar. He was only recently wounded but was able to continue on service , and as stated above, lost his life in the great triumph of the past week. Lieut. Nelson was educated in London. He was studying law at the outbreak of the war, and at once enlisted in the 12th Lancers along with the late Mr. R. Elliot Allen (a junior member of the Manx Bar). He obtained a commission in the Devon Territorials, and went to Macedonia. He was in the fighting at Kut, and suffered form enteric, being sent from there to India. Here he joined the Indian Army, ad was gazetted to the Napier Rifles after passing his military examinations. Thence he went with General Allenby’s forces to Palestine, where he has made the great sacrifice. Lieut. Nelson was a most promising officer, and great sympathy is expressed for Mr. and Mrs. Nelson in their sore bereavement. – Lieut. Nelson had only recently been awarded the Military Cross.'
Peel City Guardian, Saturday, October 05, 1918, Page 12
'Manx War Casualties
KILLLED IN ACTION OR DIED OF WOUNDS
Word was received on Wednesday of last week that Lieut. (Acting Captain) J. B. Nelson, Napier Rifles, son of Mr. C. B. Nelson,, Ramsey was killed in action in Palestine. Prior to the war he was articled to the Attorney-General. He enlisted in the outbreak of war in the 12th Lancers. He was granted a commission and gazetted to the Devon Territorials. He first saw active service in Macedonia, where he contracted enteric fever, and he was then sent to India. He there joined the Indian Army and was gazetted to the Napier Rifles, and was them sent to Palestine, where he won the Military Cross. Only recently he was slightly wounded, but he remained on duty.'
The Find A Grave website confirms where the grave of Capt. Nelosn is located:
'Captain John Bell Nelson
BIRTH unknown
DEATH 22 Sep 1918
BURIAL
Ramleh War Cemetery
Ramla, HaMerkaz (Center District), Israel
PLOT R. 39.
MEMORIAL ID 22750520 · View Source
Age: 24
Regiment/Service: 125th Napier's Rifles
Honors: M C
Son of Charles Banks Nelson and Lucy Jane Nelson, of St. Olaves, Ramsey, Isle of Man.'
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