Lieutenant Colonel S.B. Nelles
152nd (Weyburn-Estevan) Battalion

The commanding officer, Lieut. Colonel Stephen B. Nelles has had long experience. He is earnest, but inclined to be slow; conscientious, but rather lacking in energy.

 (Brig. Gen. John Hughes, Inspection Report, 23 Sept 1916)

Stephen Bell Nelles was born in Grimsby, Ontario on 20 January 1871. In 1905, he moved to west where he worked for Canada Permanent Mortgage Company in Winnipeg and Sun Life in Regina. He had been a member of the militia since 1890; serving in the Queen’s Own Rifles and 90th Winnipeg Rifles and the 95th Saskatchewan Rifles.

He raised the 152nd Battalion from southern Saskatchewan and sailed for England in October 1916. Nelles’ command was broken up to provide reinforcement drafts for the 4th, 5th, 28th and 102nd Battalions. When Nelles returned to Canada, he became the first comptroller for the city of Regina and took an active role in charitable organizations.

He retired in 1945 and died two years later.