On this page I have included articles that have been found in the Merthyr Express, and relating to Nelson soldiers.
The articles have been listed in order of dates as they appeared in the paper.

May 29^th 1915.

Sgt Tom Loveridge, D.C.M., Royal Warwickshire Regiment is home on leave.
Sgt Loveridge who had his left arm amputated from wounds received at France, received his D.C.M. from Princess Christina whilst lying on his bed at West Didsbury Hospital, Manchester, recovering after eight operations.

October 16^th 1915.

Private J Matthews, Welsh Regiment and Bugler George Davies, Welsh Regiment are home on leave.

June 24^th 1916.

Patriotic family.

Readers will be interested to learn of the proud military record possessed by Mr and Mrs W.F. Portlock and family of 27 High Street, Nelson. In the course of an interview with Mrs Portlock on Monday evening, our reported was informed that four sons, one son-in-law, two brothers and thirteen nephews were at present, serving with the colours on active service and that another son had been killed at the Dardanelles in August of last year.
The names and regiments of Mrs Portlock’s sons and brothers are as follows:

Driver Sidney Portlock, Royal Field Artillery,
Private Cyril Portlock, King’s Shropshire Light Infantry,
Sergeant Percy Portlock, 1^st Queens Regiment (lying wounded in Gloucester hospital with his left leg amputated and right eye out),
Private Charles Portlock, 1^st Gloucester Regiment (A prisoner of war),
Gunner Ernest Portlock, Royal Field Artillery, killed at Gallipoli,
Lance Corporal Edward Anniss, Mechanical Transport Company (son-in-law),
Sgt Ernest Herbert, 1^st Gloucester Regiment (brother),
and Sapper Albert Portlock, Royal Engineers (brother-in-law).

July 8^th 1916.

L/Cpl W Jones (Royal Engineers) of Heol Fawr, has been wounded in France and is now in hospital. Sgt Major Jim Jones and Mr Willie Jones, sons of Mrs Jones, Brynhyfryd, Heol Fawr have been home for a brief holiday.
The former took part in the retreat from Mons, and was also chief telegraphist to Lord Kitchener during the South African war.

July 22^nd 1916.

Wounded in action:

Bugler George Davies (Welsh regiment) of 6 Dynevor Terrace
Private J Burley, 10^th Welsh, son of John Burley, Shingrig Road, Nelson,
Private Jack Day, Royal Welsh Fusiliers and Private M Bevan, both wounded in the big advance.

September 9^th 1916.

Sergeant Sidney Portlock, Gloucester Regiment, of Commercial Street, is home from hospital. The gallant Sergeant has lost his left leg and right eye as a result of wounds received in France.

December 2nd 1916.

Sgt Jack Hughes, K.S.L.I. of 20, Wern Crescent has forwarded home a Christmas greeting card and silver bullet, the gift of Princess Mary. Sgt Hughes was recently wounded in the Battle of The Somme and is now an instructor at the Regimental Depot. He is a brother of Private W E Hughes reported last week as having died of wounds.

February 3^rd 1917.

Private Thomas Thomas, Royal Welsh Fusiliers of Heol Fawr arrived home last week on rest leave from fighting line. Pte Thomas enlisted early in 1915 and has been over a year at the front.

November 10^th 1917.

Wounded and missing:

L/Cpl Lyn Austin, D.C.M. of the London Regiment and son of Mr Gwilym Austin, grocer, High Street, Nelson is officially reported wounded and missing. The news reached Nelson on Tuesday morning in a letter from one of L/Cpl Austin’s chums. Mention is made that L/Cpl Austin was wounded in the leg on Friday 26^th October 1917 and that since then nothing has been heard of him. The missing N.C.O. has only recently been awarded the D.C.M. for bravery in action at Bullecourt, and was to have come home shortly in order to accept a commission.

22^nd December 1917.

L/Cpl Lyn Austin is a prisoner of war at Munster, Germany.

6^th April 1918.

Private Tom Phillips.
His many friends will be pleased to learn that Private Tom Phillips, Welsh Regiment of Springfield Terrace who is serving in India is rapidly acquiring a great reputation as a baritone singer. Private Phillips is now attached to the staff concert party and has travelled with them hundreds of miles, having had the honour to sing before the Viceroy of India on three occasions. Prior to enlisting he was employed by the Treharris Co-op society and was in great demand at local concerts and entertainments as a singer. He is a brother of Mr Jack Phillips, checkweigher, Penallta Colliery.

January 4^th 1919.

Wedding took place on Christmas Day 1918 at St John’s Church of Mr Cyril Henry Portlock (Jack), son of Mr and Mrs W.F. Portlock, 27 Commercial Street, Nelson and Miss Ada Speight of Normanton, Yorkshire. The bridegroom who has recently been discharged from the forces, served throughout the war in the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry, and has been twice wounded in action. Private Sidney Portlock, Trench Mortar Battery, brother of the bridegroom was best man.
Mr and Mrs Portlock are making their new home in Abercynon.

Mr and Mrs W.F. Portlock, 27, Commercial Street are anxiously awaiting news of their son, Private Charles Portlock, 2^nd Gloucester Regiment who is a prisoner of war at Hanover, Germany.

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