Ivor James Nelmes, born 28 May 1898, was the son of Mrs. Martha Evans and the adopted son of John and Elizabeth Higgs of Tredegar. He worked as a local collier's boy before choosing a life at sea, joining the Royal Navy as a boy seaman, second class, in August 1913.

Upon the outbreak of hostilities, he served continuously from September 1914 through July 1917 across several strategic warships, including the light cruiser HMS Minerva, the battleship HMS Implacable, and lastly the town-class light cruiser HMS Dublin.

In August 1917, Able Seaman Nelmes (J26377) was invalided out of active service suffering from advanced tuberculosis, at which point he was paid a standard war gratuity. Having returned home to recuperate, he ultimately succumbed to the illness at the end of 1918 in Monmouthshire, dying at the age of 20.