Niels Nielsen (SN 6869) was born at Warrenheip and was a 45 year old single labourer when he enlisted in Ballarat on February 19th 1917. Assigned to the 22nd Battalion he embarked from Melbourne on May 11th aboard the Ascanius, and reached England in mid July. Once in England he was transferred to the 21st Battalion, but while undergoing further training in preparation for deployment to the battlefields of France it was discovered that he was overage. Consequently, it was determined that he should be returned to Australia, and on January 31st 1918 he departed England aboard the Osterley. He was discharged on May 17th 1918.

Lucas’s Staffs Appreciation of Brave Men, the original Avenue register, records his name as Neils Neilson.