GORDON CLARKE ALDRIDGE NELDER
To be remembered on both an Anglican and a Catholic WW1 Memorial is unusual, but it happened in the case of Gordon Nelder.
Gordon's father George was born in Plympton St. Mary, Devon in 1850 and spent his working life as a messman and steward in the Royal Navy. As such he took up residence in Portsmouth sometime around 1878, probably because he had met and married Jane with whom he set up home at 17 North Street, Portsea. By 1891 they were living at 28 Lion Terrace, Portsea. They had seven children of whom Gordon was the youngest.
Around 1901 Gordon began attending Portsmouth Grammar School where he seems to have been both academically and athletically proficient. He remained at the school for several years and in 1912 joined Christ's College, Cambridge.
Sometime between 1901 and 1911, Gordon's father George died (though the death doesn't seem to have been registered in the UK) and he moved with his widowed mother to 13 Montague Road, North End. In the 1911 census he was described as an Assistant Elementary Schoolmaster. Having moved to North End he seems to have taken up attendance at Corpus Christi Church on Gladys Avenue, a few hundred yards from his home.
Soon after the outbreak of war in August 1914 Gordon Nelder joined the Hampshire Regiment and on the 8th November was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant. In April 1915 the first landings at Gallipoli took place and in August the Hampshire Regiment was sent to reinforce the action. Soon after landing Gordon Nelder was killed when the Turks overran the trenches occupied by the Hampshires.
FURTHER INFORMATION
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) website lists 2nd Lieutenant Gordon Clarke Aldridge Nelder, 13th Battalion Hampshire Regiment; date of death, 06/08/1915. He is remembered on the Helles Memorial (Panel 125-134 or 223-226 228-229 & 328).
Gordon Nelder is also remembered on the Portsmouth Grammar School WW1 Memorial, the Portsmouth Cathedral WW1 Memorial, Corpus Christi WW1 Memorial and on the Cenotaph.
RESEARCH NOTES
The name of Gordon Nelder appears on the WW1 memorials at both the Anglican Cathedral and the Catholic Corpus Christi church. It seems certain that he was a Catholic in his final years, so either he had changed his faith, or more likely his name was included on the Anglican Cathedral memorial as part of a package with his brother Frank Nelder who also died in the war. Both had attended the Grammar School on High Street, so perhaps the nomination came from someone connected to the school.
Tim Backhouse
February 2014