Major Douglas Nelson
Soldier who served at Alamein and in the Battle of Normandy
MAJOR DOUGLAS NELSON, who has died aged 99, won a Military Medal in the Battle of Normandy while serving with the Nottinghamshire Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry (NSRY).
On June 16 1944 Nelson was in charge of a section of a reconnaissance troop, part of B Squadron. He had been given the task of locating an enemy gun which had knocked out one of the squadron’s heavy tanks.
With great skill and daring he worked forward on foot until he was within a few yards of a German strongpoint. He remained in a most dangerous position until he had gathered all the information that he could before returning to his own lines. The following morning he volunteered to lead an infantry attack on the position.
A fortnight afterwards, near Rauray, west of Caen, he took part in a B Squadron attack on the village of Queudeville when his tank was knocked out by enemy fire in a minefield. He led the crew of his tank to safety and then went back to rescue another crew.
All crossed the minefield while it was being swept with machine-gun fire and reached their regimental lines without casualties. The citation for the award of an MM paid tribute to Nelson’s coolness, courage and complete disregard for his own safety.
William Douglas Nelson – always known as Doug – was born in Nottingham on March 17 1920. He joined the NSRY as a trooper before the Second World War because he liked horses. On the outbreak of hostilities he went to Palestine with the Regiment as part of 1st Cavalry Division, which was carrying out internal security duties.
In July 1940 the SRY lost its horses. The following year, it was re-roled as an armoured regiment; B and C Squadrons were equipped with Sherman and Grant tanks. Nelson, serving in A Squadron, which always led and was equipped with Crusader light tanks, saw fierce fighting at the battle of Alamein and throughout the North African campaign.
The NSRY, part of 8th Armoured Brigade, had gained such a reputation for their success in spearheading attacks that they were one of the armoured regiments given the task of leading the assault landings in Normandy on D-day.
A stormy night on June 5 turned into a cold, blustery day. Their tanks were Duplex Drive amphibians launched at 800 yards to swim ashore or deep wade. Eight were lost at sea and eight more were knocked out on the beach by heavy fire, as they accompanied the first troops ashore.
Nelson, in Recce Troop, landed a few days after D-day and caught up with the Regiment on June 11. He arrived at RHQ shortly before artillery fire killed the commanding officer and the adjutant; the NSRY were in action for 50 of the 60 days that it took to break out and they lost 50 tank commanders during this time.
The Regiment was part of the rapid advance across northern France before being brought to a halt by determined resistance in Belgium and Holland. On September 21, Recce Troop crossed the Dutch border between Beek and Wyler. Nelson, who was in the leading tank, is believed to have commanded the first armoured vehicle into Germany. He finished the war near Bremen.
The NSRY was disbanded after the war but was re-formed in 1947. Nelson rejoined it and was commissioned that year. He became second-incommand in the 1960s and retired from the Army in the rank of major.
In civilian life he joined John Player & Sons, the tobacco company, and became sales manager. After settling in a village near Grantham in Lincolnshire he enjoyed golf and walking.
Doug Nelson married, in 1946, Doreen (Peggy) Mary Walton, who predeceased him, and he is survived by their two sons.
Major Douglas Nelson, born March 17 1920, died November 11 2019