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Oct 20, 1896
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Born at
Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire England
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Jun 14, 1915
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Attested into
the 59th Battalion at Ottawa Ontario
Ø Number 454347
Ø Next of kin given as Mrs Arthur Nicholls, mother, of 420 Gloucester
St, Ottawa Ontario
o This was later changed to read 550 Albert St, Ottawa Ontario
Ø Previous occupation given as Labourer
Ø No previous military experience given
Ø Religion given as Salvation Army
Ø Assigned to “C” Company
The
Battalion’s initial training was done at the Barriefield Camp, Kingston Ontario
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Apr 1, 1916
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Embarked the RMS
Olympic at Halifax Nova Scotia
Even though
the Battalion embarked on this date, the ship didn’t sail until April 5th.
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Apr 11, 1916
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Disembarked at
Liverpool England and proceeded to Shorncliffe
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Jul 6, 1916
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The 59th
Battalion was absorbed into the 39th Reserve Battalion at the West Sandling
Camp
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Aug 10, 1916
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Transferred to
the 21st Battalion
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Aug 12, 1916
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Arrived at the
CBD (Canadian Base Depot) at the Rouelles Camp, Havre France as part of a draft of 77
Other Ranks coming from England. TOS
(Taken On Strength) the 21st Battalion
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Aug 27, 1916
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Left the CBD to
join the 2nd Entrenching Battalion
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Aug 29, 1916
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Joined the 2nd
Entrenching Battalion at the Halifax Camp
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Sep 17, 1916
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Joined the 21st
Battalion who had just been relieved from their position in the Sugar Factory on The Somme
and had moved into billets at the Brickfields at Albert to clean up and reorganize after
suffering heavy losses in that attack
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Oct 1, 1916
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Admitted to No 2
CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) diagnosed with ICT (Inter Connective Tissue) infection in
his right toe
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Oct 2, 1916
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Transferred to
No 10 CFA
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Oct 9, 1916
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Transferred to
No 9 CFA
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Oct 16, 1916
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Transferred to
No 44 CCS (Casualty Clearing Station) and the same day was loaded onto the Ambulance Train
#32, for transport to hospital
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Oct 17, 1916
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Admitted to No 3
Canadian General Hospital at Boulogne
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Oct 21, 1916
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Transferred to
the No 7 Convalescent Depot at Boulogne
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Oct 25, 1916
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Transferred to
the No 3 Large Rest Camp at Boulogne
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Oct 28, 1916
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TOS the CBD and
posted to “A” Company for those recovering from wounds and illness
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Nov 10, 1916
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Left the CBD for
the 2nd Entrenching Battalion
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Nov 13, 1916
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Joined the 2nd
Entrenching Battalion at Hersin along with 13 other reinforcements destined for the 21st
Battalion
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Dec 12 1916
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Rejoined the 21st
Battalion in the front line trenches near Bully Grenay
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Apr 9, 1917
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During the
advance on Vimy Ridge, Pte Nicholls was instantly killed
He was
initially buried near where he fell, but after the war his remains were exhumed and moved
to an organized cemetery
Lievin Communal Cemetery
Pas de Calais France
It is of
interest to note that he made out a new will leaving his estate to his mother 3 days
earlier, on Good Friday.
Following the war,
the British War Medal, Victory Medal and Memorial Cross were sent to his mother, Mrs A
Nicholls, at Laurentian View Post Office, Ottawa Ontario
The Plaque, (Dead Man’s Penny) and Scroll were sent to his father, Arthur Nicholls,
at the same address
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