Basil was the ninth child of eleven born  in 1881 to William and Francis Nell who had a successful brewing business in Cardiff. His family home was at Wenvoe, outside Cardiff and Basil attended Blundell's School, Tiverton.

He  became a civil engineer and travelled between South Africa and India where he was married to Mary Dalby, and had a son Walter Basil born in India in 1911. In 1915 they settled down to live at Nupend Lodge, Longhope. Basil and Mary's second son was born in Longhope in April 1917. In July 1915 Basil was recommended to a commission into the 1/6th London Field Company, 2/2nd London Divisional Engineers as 2nd Lieutenant.

The Division arrived in Salonika in December 1916 then in June 1917 they departed for Egypt.

Basil was admitted to No. 88 General Hospital Cairo on 19th November 1918 and died 3 days later of illness.

Basil is commemorated in Longhope on a plaque in Longhope Church and on the Roll of Honour.

Jo Phelps