The number 111 is sometimes called a "nelson" (particularly as a score in cricket or darts) after Admiral Nelson, who allegedly only had "One Eye, One Arm, One Ball" near the end of his life. This is sometimes bowdlerized to say that he lost "One Eye, One Arm, One Life" during his naval career.
Another suggestion is that the number is derived from his three great victories, thus Copenhagen, Nile & Trafalgar which gives the sequence "Won - Won - Won".
A score of 111 or multiples thereof (called "double nelson", "triple nelson" etc.) is considered an ill omen in cricket, because the figures "111" resemble a wicket without bails.
In pre-decimalisation days, bankers seem to have called a sum of one pound, one shilling and one penny `Nelson'.
From http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20061126225050AApc4Qq
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