NILSON, Frederick
| Service Number: | 331 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen |
| Born: | Sweden, 1878 |
| Home Town: | Yangan, Southern Downs, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Soldier |
| Died: | Railway Accident, Heidelberg, South Africa., 6 September 1901 |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: | Anzac Square Boer War Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
Boer War Service
| 4 Apr 1901: | Embarked Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 331, 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, Embarked from Pinkenbar in Queensland on "Victorian" bound for Cape Town. Arrived a month later 02 May 1901. | |
|---|---|---|
| 6 Sep 1901: | Discharged Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 331, 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, Died from his Railway Accident injuries sustained on active service near Elandsfontein Station during Heidelberg Operations. | |
| 1 Oct 1901: | Involvement Private, 331, 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Maurice Kissane
Frederick Nilson was born in Sweden in 1878. He was the second child born to Sven and Kaisa Nilsen. Fred Anglicised his Swedish name. Johan Frederic Nilsen was his Swedish birth name. Fred as he was known in Queensland, used his middle name. He had five siblings. The youngest two were born in Queensland.
The Nilsen Family migrated to Queensland in 1886. They disembarked in Brisbane on the SS "Dacca" on 24 July 1886, acccording to MyHeritage. The SS "Dacca" from the British India Steam Navigation Co. had departed from London some seven weeks earlier.
The family settle at Yangan in Queensland. Fred must have developed his horsemenship skills there. For he volunteered to fight. Fred made the cut for the 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen. He embarked from Brisbane in 1901. Fifteen years after he disembarked there as a young but excited immigrant. For to him in 1886, Queensland had lots of sunshine and wide open spaces. Unlike long cold winters of his native Sweden.
This time, he was going to war. Fred would fight for the British Empire and his adopted land. However, he was destined never to return. Fred died from injuries sustained during a Railway Accident in the Transvaal.
It is not known if that fatal railway accident near the Elandsfontein Station was caused by enemy action. For the Boers targetted British Trains plus railway lines. However Fred subsequently died at Heidelberg in the Transvaal, from his railway accident injuries.
Lest We Forget.
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