Soldier Record

Baden (as he was always known by family friends) was my great uncle. He joined the RAF in June 1918 and was in active service that year.

The Hertfordshire Mercury newspaper, 'Ware News', reported as follows :- 'Young Man's Death and Funeral - Much sympathy is expressed in the town at the loss Mr. and Mrs. E Waller have sustained by the untimely death of their son Nelson Baden Waller who has been for the past few days in Norwich Hospital suffering from influenza and pneumonia. During the night of Wednesday January 1 the complaint took a sudden turn for the worst and his illness terminated fatally at 4 o'clock on Thursday morning the 2nd inst. -- he had the prospect of a promising career befor him in the motor business' etc--( 12 inch column of dedication etc in total)

His parents received the following letter from the Adjutant at Bircham, Lieut. R A Toller, as reported in this newspaper:- 'It is with deep regret that I have to inform you of the death of your son Nelson. He was a boy whom I have always liked and thought a tremendous lot of and known a lot about,and one whom I know was extremely popular and had very many friends. His loss is deeply mourned by all his friends and I send you the very sincere sympathy and condolence of the whole squadron'

Being the much loved youngest member of his family, dying shortly after the end of the Great War came as a great shock to all his relatives and friends.

Although I was not born until 1939 I can remember his name comming up at family gatherings and somehow felt I knew him.