In Memory of
James Alfred Nash
Private
CH/18527
Royal Marine Light Infantry
who died on
Monday, 6th October 1914. Age 18.
Additional Information: Son of Mary and Charles Nash, of 47, St. James Rd.,
Carshalton, Surrey.
Commemorative Information :Cemetery: SCHOONSELHOF CEMETERYGrave
Reference/ Panel Number: 83. Location: Antwerp lies 57 Km north of Brussels on
the E19 and 59 km north east of Gent on the E17 motorway.
The cemetery itself is located in Wilrijk, a suburb of Antwerp. From the Bistplein in
front of the railway station in Wilrijk follow the Kleinsteenweg for 300 M until you
arrive at the ring road. Turn right and follow the ring road for 100 M to the first set of
traffic lights and turn left. Go under the flyover and continue straight on over the dual
carrageway into Jules Moretus Lei. Follow this street for 1 kilometre and the entrance
to the Municipal Cemetery is on your left. After entering the cemetery follow the
Commission signs to the three Commission plots at the far end of the cemetery.
Alternatively ask for their location at the office within the cemetery.
Historical Information: Antwerp was the seat of the Belgian Government from the
17th August to the 7th October, 1914. It became, towards the end of August, one of
the strong positions on the allied left flank, and by the middle of September a position
of critical importance. The Royal Naval Air Service used its aerodrome. It was
defended by fortress troops and the greater part of the Belgian Field Army. On the
27th September the Germans laid siege to it; during the first week of October the
Naval Division entered the city, and they played a gallant part in its defence; on the
9th, before other British and French reinforcements could arrive the last forts became
untenable and the last defenders retired; and from the 10th October, 1914, to the
Armistice the city was in German hands. Schoonselhof Cemetery, was the park of a
chateau, bought by the town in 1911, used by the Germans from 1914 onwards. The
Military Section contains French, British, Belgian, Portuguese and German graves.
There are now 100, 1914-18 and nearly 1,500 1939-45 war casualties commemorated
in this site. Of these, almost 10 from the 1914-18 war are unidentified and a special
memorial is erected to a Marine buried among them. 17 graves from the 1914-18 War,
were brought in after the Armistice from Lierre German Cemetery, 1 from BouchoutLes-Lierre Churchyard, 3 from the War Plot in Malines Communal Cemetery, and 1
from the Casino garden at Lierre. From the 1939-45 War 22 are unidentified.
http://carshaltonwarmemorial.webs.com/surnameshq.htm
NASH, James Alfred
Age: 18
Rank: Private
Regiment / Service: Royal Marine Light Infantry
Unit: Chatham Bn, R.N Div
Service Number: CH/18527
Died: 06/10/1914
Cemetery / Memorial: Schoonselhof Cemetery
Reference: II.A.83
CWGC Notes: Son of Mary and Charles Nash, of 47 St. James Rd, Carshalton
Additional Information: James Nash was one of the first local soldiers to be killed in action, his date of
death being the second earliest of the soldiers on the memorial. The Carshalton and Wallington
Advertiser on 30th October 1914 reads, “Another of Carshalton’s soldiers has fallen on the field of
battle, and he is Pte J.A. Nash, of the Royal Marine Light Infantry, whose home is at 47 St. James
Road. Nash, who is only 18, enlisted last June and was at first stationed at Deal. Afterwards he was at
Chatham, and although such a short time in the forces he was sent to the front some few weeks ago.
Apparently he took part in the defence of Antwerp and it was there he received his wound. No
information is at hand as to the nature of the wound or Nash’s present whereabouts, inquiries from
headquarters bringing a reply to the effect that it is not known yet where he was. He is believed to be in
France. His name was published in the list of casualties of Antwerp on Wednesday. Nash has a
brother, Pte W.G. Nash, in the 1st Battalion “The Queen’s”, now in training in Purfleet, while he has
several relatives in the forces, including two cousins named Nash and five members of the Wyatt
family, well known on the Wrythe, who are distant relatives.”
The Royal Naval Division Casualties confirms that he fought at Dunkirk from 20/09/1914-02/10/1914,
and in the defence of Antwerp from 03/10/1914–06/10/1914, where he was reported missing, assumed
dead.