Nelles Road is located on property that was acquired by War Time Housing Limited and was the first of many developments during the war years built to help house the influx of workers required in Welland for the war effort.
At the age of 16, Admiral Percy Walker Nelles joined the Canadian Fisheries Protection Service as a Naval Cadet in 1908. He first served in the Canadian Government Ship Canada. In 1910, at the start of the Naval Service of Canada, he joined HMCS Niobe for training. From 1913 to 1917, he trained with the Royal Navy.
Nelles became Flag Lieutenant to the Director of Naval Service in 1917. In 1920, he was appointed to the Naval Headquarters staff in Ottawa. In 1923, he returned to sea with HMS Caledon.
On promotion to Commander in 1925, Nelles was appointed Commanding Officer Pacific Coast. In 1930, he assumed command of HMS Dragon as acting Captain. The next year, he assumed command of the HMCS Saguenay as a Commander. In 1932, he was named Commander-in-Charge Halifax and promoted to Captain in 1933.
Nelles became Chief of the Naval Staff in January 1934. He was the first Canadian born and trained to do so. With that, came a promotion to Commodore First Class in July 1934. He was promoted to Rear-Admiral in 1938 and Vice-Admiral in 1941. In 1944, he was appointed Senior Canadian Flag Officer Overseas and Head of Canadian Naval Mission (London).
Nelles was promoted to Admiral when he retired from the Royal Canadian Navy in January 1945. He died on June 13, 1951. On May 16, 1994, this street was named in his honour.