Nelson Christopher Mutimer

A Corporal with the 70th Battalion, Nelson died on 1st of May 1942 at the age of 28. 

Nelson was born at Lowestoft on 18 September 1913, a son of George and Florence Mutimer. In 1921 his family lived at 5 Oakland Terrace, Kessingland.  

In 1932 Nelson married Phyllis May Baxter.  

In 1939 they lived at Sun-Set, Runce’s Lane, Carlton Colville, and Nelson worked as a sterilizer for a cheese manufacturer. After the war Phyllis married William Martin. 

Nelson enlisted in the Army and his service number shows that initially he served with the Royal Norfolk Regiment. At some point he was transferred to the Suffolk Regiment and was posted to the 70th (Young Solider) Battalion. Nelson’s battalion had the task of training young recruits before they were posted to other battalions for active service.

Nelson died in a training accident whilst he was stationed at Ipswich. The details of his inquest were widely reported, including this account from the Birmingham Post, 5 May 1942, page 3:

Demonstrating a movement in “unarmed combat”, Corporal Nelson Christopher Mutimer, of Carlton Colville, near Lowestoft, dislocated his spine and died. At the inquest a doctor said that the injury was practically the same as resulted from hanging. The Coroner commented that such advanced exercises should be practiced only by men who had reached a certain stage of efficiency. He recorded a “Misadventure” verdict.

Nelson's brother Ernest served with the Suffolk Regiment and died in 1916.