Arthur Nelson entered the Royal Navy as a Technician Rated Air Fitter First Class and immediately saw action in the Second World War. By the time he left the navy he was fully trained as an Air Artificer and was rated Chief Petty Officer. He has also worked as a constable and hotelier in Somerset.
After retirement he devoted many years to the reaseach and writing of his book on the Tudor Navy, which evolved from a lifelong interest in the wooden sailing navy of Great Britain.