Part 142

=NEWSHAM, CHARLES=, Private, No. 2763, 16th Platoon, C Coy., 9th (Highlanders) Battn. Royal Scots (T.F.), eldest _s._ of Robert Newsham, of 6, Broadway, Withington, Manchester, a buyer for Ralli Bros., of Manchester, by his wife, Agnes, dau. of John Gorrie, Manchester; _b._ Cheetham, Manchester, 16 May, 1885; educ. Cheetham Higher Grade School; was a buyer for Ralli Bros., and a member of the Manchester Royal Exchange. On the outbreak of war he joined the Royal Scots with his great friend Gerard G. S. Frost (who was afterwards killed during the same bombardment as himself), 10 Nov. 1914, and after training at Edinburgh and Kilmarnock, left for the Front towards the end of Feb.; he lost his life during the bombardment of Ypres, three shells dropping into the billets of his company, killing him and six of his comrades, 7 April, 1915. He was the first member of the Manchester Royal Exchange killed in the war.

=NEWSHAM, RICHARD=, Stoker, 1st Class, K. 13680, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=NEWSTEAD, GEORGE POPE=, Major, 2nd Battn. Suffolk Regt., and Tempy, Lieut.-Col. Sierra Leone Battn., West African Frontier Force, only _s._ of James Newstead, of Ashby Manor, Horncastle, co. Lincoln, by his wife, Louisa Anne, dau. of George Pope; _b._ Bristol, 23 Sept. 1875; educ. Rugby School (1889–94, where he was in the cricket eleven and football fifteen, and won the Athletic Sports’ Challenge Cup) and New College, Oxford; gazetted 2nd Lieut. 2nd Suffolks, 15 May, 1897, and promoted Lieut. 24 June, 1899, Capt. 15 March, 1905, and Major, Nov. 1914; served in the South African War, 1899–1902, being employed with the Mounted Infantry; took part in the operations in Cape Colony, south of the Orange River, 1899–1900, including action at Colesberg (1–6 Jan.); in the Orange Free State, April and May, 1900; in the Transvaal, May and June, 1900, including actions near Johannesburg and Pretoria; in the Orange River Colony, May to 29 Nov. 1900; in the Transvaal, 30 Nov. to Dec. 1900; and in the Orange River Colony, Jan. 1901, to 31 May, 1902 (Queen’s medal with three clasps and King’s medal with two clasps); seconded for service with the West African Frontier Force, 16 Sept. 1905; served with the Sierra Leone Battn. at Freetown and in the bush under Major Palmer until 26 Oct. 1909; then returned to England and rejoined the 2nd Suffolks, but in Aug. 1910, he again went to West Africa, and on 1 April, 1913, was promoted Tempy. Lieut.-Col. He died at Bare, Cameroons, West Africa, 5 March, 1915, of wounds received at Stoebel’s Farm on the previous day. Buried at Bare. Describing the action, an officer wrote: “On 4 March, 1915, I was with the advanced guard, which the colonel was commanding, and we came under a very hot fire--he, his Adjutant and myself being all together for about half an hour. He then ordered me to take our Maxim gun back a little way, and came with me to select a new position for it. After this he left me and went forward to the right under a very heavy fire to make further dispositions, and I lost sight of him; but about five minutes later his Adjutant ran past me and called out that he himself was hit in the face and that the Colonel had been shot in the side.” He _m._ Maude Aileen, dau. of the late Col. Hanley, R.E.; _s.p._

=NEWTH, WALTER JOSEPH=, Trooper, No. 11/495 2nd Queen Alexandra’s Squadron, Wellington Mounted Rifles, New Zealand Expeditionary Force, 5th _s._ of George Charles Newth, of Sandy Farm, Luckington, Chippenham, Wilts, Farmer, by his wife, Charlotte Mary, dau. of J. H. Harris; _b._ Sandy Farm, Luckington, Chippenham, co. Wilts, 23 April, 1891; educ. Village School there; left home in July, 1912, to take up farming in New Zealand; volunteered on the outbreak of war and enlisted Sept. 1914; left with 2nd reinforcements, and was killed in action at Gallipoli, 27 Aug. 1915; _unm._

=NEWTON, ERNEST=, Armourer’s Crew, M. 2643, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

=NEWTON, FREDERICK=, L.-Corpl., No. 9311, 3rd Battn. Coldstream Guards; _b._ Warwick; served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders; died at Coulommieres, 9 Sept. 1914, of wounds received in action. Buried in Cemetery there; _unm._

=NEWTON, GEORGE HENRY=, A.B. (R.F.R., B. 6696), S.S. 968, H.M.S. Hawke; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914.

=NEWTON, WILLIAM HENRY=, Gunner, R.M.A., 13524, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=NIBLETT, HENRY=, Stoker, 1st Class, 225960, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

=NICHOLL, CHRISTOPHER BENONI=, Lieut., 5th Battn. Canadian Expeditionary Force, yst. _s._ of the late Rev. Edward Powell Nicholl, of Ogmore, Manitou, Manitoba; formerly vicar of Ascott-sub-Wychwood, co. Oxon, and recently Incumbent of Mission of St. Luke, Pembina Crossing, Manitoba, by his wife, Sarah, dau. of John Jenkyns, of Llanblethian, Glamorgan, and grandson of the late Right Hon. John Nicholl, of Merthyr Mawr, co. Glamorgan; _b._ Leighton Buzzard, co. Bedford, 15 Dec. 1881; educ. Manitoba Public Schools, and St. John’s Collegiate School, Winnipeg; was a Chemist; received a commission as Lieut. in the 16th Saskatchewan Light Horse, Nov. 1911; and on the outbreak of war at once volunteered for Imperial service, and was appointed Lieut. 5th Battn. 22 Sept. 1914; came over with the first contingent in Oct. following; went to France, 25 May, and died in No. 3 Casualty Clearing Hospital, Bailleul, 30 July, 1915, of wounds received on the 29th, when on night patrol near Ploegsteert, examining the wire entanglements in front of the trenches; _unm._ In the Battn. journal his comrades wrote of him: “A quiet and unostentatious officer was Lieut. Nicholl. But he was one whose conscience was keen for good service ... those who were privileged to know him knew an honest heart and a nature entirely true and faithful.”

=NICHOLAS, GEORGE ARTHUR=, No. 2101, A Coy., 1/4th Battn. Royal Sussex Regt. (T.F.), eldest _s._ of James Nicholas, of Limehurst Lodge, Haywards Heath, Gardener, by his wife, Ruth Mary, dau. of George Mitchell; _b._ Wivelsfield, co. Sussex, 31 May. 1895; educ. St. Wilfred’s School, Haywards Heath; was a Butcher’s Assistant, enlisted 31 Aug. 1914; left with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, 16 July, 1915, and was killed in action in Gallipoli, 11 Sept. 1915; _unm._

=NICHOLAS, ROBERT STANLEY=, Private, R.M.L.I. (R.F.R., 1871), late Ch./12017, H.M.S. Hogue; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=NICHOLLS, HARRY=, Chief Armourer, 151366, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=NICHOLLS, HENRY ARTHUR=, Private, No. 8777, 2nd Battn. Coldstream Guards, _s._ of the late James Nicholls, of Birmingham; _b._ Birmingham. 19 Feb. 1895; educ. Highfield Road School there; enlisted 30 June, 1910, served three years with the Colours, and then entered the employ of the G.W.R. as a carman. On the declaration of war, 5 Aug. 1914, he was called up, went to the Front with his regt. and served through the retreat from Mons, the Battles of the Aisne and the Marne, and all the severe fighting from 26 Oct. to 20 Nov. when in the words of the Brigadier-General Commanding the 4th (Guards) Brigade, “the Coldstreams held their line intact under hardships and strain that it is impossible to describe.” During these four weeks they had occupied trenches dug on a hill full of natural springs, and which were “undrainable, and constantly full of water above the knee for 23 days. The gale of about 2 Nov. cleared the wood in which they were, of every particle of cover, the trees having been all pierced through by shrapnel and bullets. Hand grenades thrown at them were, on one occasion when they did not explode, picked up and hurled back again, and they finally rejoined the Brigade on the right flank of this part of the British line on 17 Nov. in as good heart as the day they left England.” On 20 Nov. they were withdrawn for a short rest, but were soon back in the firing line and Nicholls died of wounds received in action the same day at La Bassée, 31 Jan. 1915, and was buried in Cuinchy Churchyard. He _m._ at Walworth, London, 29 June, 1913, Helen Adelaide (119, Albany Road, Camberwell, S.E.), dau. of (--) Ware, and had a dau., Phyllis May, _b._ 30 April, 1914.

=NICHOLLS, JOHN WILLIAM ERNEST=, Boy, 1st Class, J. 26610, H.M.S. Hawke; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914.

=NICHOLLS, WILLIAM CHARLES=, Private, No. 19427, 1st Battn. The Welsh Regt., _s._ of William Charles Nicholls, Sailor; _b._ Penzance, 7 Dec. 1880; educ. National School there, enlisted following the outbreak of war, 15 Nov. 1914, served in France with the Expeditionary Force, and was killed at Zillebeke, 25 May, 1915. He _m._ at Penzance, 22 Sept. 1901, Alice Maud, dau. of George James Pidwell, and had six sons: William Charles, _b._ 4 Nov. 1901; George James, _b._ 30 Jan. 1905; Richard John, _b._ 26 Oct. 1907; Stephen, _b._ 18 Nov. 1909; Arthur Reginald, _b._ 26 Nov. 1912; and Edward Harvey, _b._ 22 Oct. 1914.

=NICHOLLS, WILLIAM JAMES=, Chief Stoker, 170482, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

=NICHOLSON, ARTHUR KNIGHT=, 2nd Lieut., 18th (Queen Mary’s Own) Hussars, only _s._ of Herbert Nicholson, of Ridborough Hall, Tunbridge Wells, J.P., C.C., by his wife, Stella, dau. of Edward W. Knight; _b._ Helena, Montana, U.S.A., 6 Oct. 1893; educ. St. Andrew’s, Harrow, and Sandhurst; gazetted 2nd Lieut., 18th Hussars, 22 Jan. 1913; went to France, Aug. 1914; and was killed in action at St. Eloi, 31 Oct. following. Buried near Chateau Hollebeke; _unm._

=NICHOLS, WALTER=, Stoker, 1st Class, 310744, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=NICHOLS, WILLIAM HENRY=, Stoker (R.F.R., Ch. B. 4613), 173115, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=NICHOLSON, BASIL LEE=, Lieut., 3rd Staffordshire Battery, North Midland Brigade, R.F.A. (T.F.), yst. _s._ of Sir Arthur Nicholson, of Highfield Hall, Leek, co. Stafford, J.P., C.C., by his wife, Marianne Lee, dau. of Robert Falkner, of Kersal; _b._ Highfield Hall, 24 Oct. 1890; educ. Malvern, Rugby, and afterwards in Germany and Switzerland, joined the Territorial Force shortly after its formation, served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders, and was killed in the trenches near Ypres, while making observations, 24 July, 1915; _unm._ He was buried in the Dranoutre Churchyard. Col. Sir Hill Child, Bart., wrote: “He was shot through the head this afternoon, when on duty as observing officer in the trenches. His brother (who was wounded the previous Wednesday) is quite heart-broken, as indeed we all are. I have always considered your two sons the two best young officers in my brigade.” His two brothers, Capt. A. Falkner Nicholson and Capt. Malcolm Nicholson, are both (1916) serving with the R.F.A.

=NICHOLSON, DAVID BEVERIDGE=, Private, No. 3035, 1/5th Battn. (Queen’s Edinburgh Rifles) Royal Scots (Lothian Regt.) (T.F.), 2nd _s._ of Rev. Thomas Brown Nicholson, of Chalmers Street, Dunfermline, Minister of the United Free Church of Scotland, M.A., by his wife, Barbara Stevenson, dau. of the late David Beveridge, of Kingskettle; _b._ Hamilton, co. Lanark, 22 Dec. 1895; educ. Dunfermline High School, and was afterwards engaged as an apprentice with Oliver Melville, Robb & Scott, Electrical Engineers, Dunfermline and Kirkcaldy. In Dec. 1914 he enlisted in the Queen’s Edinburgh Rifles, and was chosen as one of a draft in May, 1915, to go to Gallipoli to strengthen the 5th Royal Scots, reaching there just before the heavy fighting in which that regt. so distinguished itself. He took part in the famous charge of 28 June, 1915, and was thereafter reported missing, until 7 March, 1916, when he was posted as killed in action; _unm._ A comrade wrote: “I knew him well and I was much attached to the young lad. We had talks together and shared our dug-outs together often and on the awful day, we went over the parapet together. I was wounded in the attack and he went on, so, of course, from that time I knew nothing further. I shall ever treasure the memory of him, and shall ever think of him as the brave young lad who did not seem to know fear.” “I have put my faith in God, and am ready for whatever happens,” he wrote, in one of his last letters.

=NICHOLSON, JOHN BEVERIDGE=, Private, No. 2253, 1/4th (City of Dundee) Battn. The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) (T.F.), eldest _s._ of the Rev. Thomas Brown Nicholson, M.A., Minister of the Chalmers Street United Free Church, Dumfermline, by his wife, Barbara Stevenson, dau. of the late David Beveridge, of Kingskettle, Manufacturer; _b._ Hamilton, 24 May, 1894; educ. High School, Dumfermline; was a journalist and a member of the literary Staff of John Leng & Co., Dundee; volunteered on the outbreak of war and joined the 1/4th Black Watch, 10 Aug. 1914; left for France on Tuesday, 23 Feb. 1915, and was killed in action near Festubert, 12 July following, being shot by a sniper while repairing the trenches at midnight. Buried, Grave No. 7, Row H, Sheet, France, Bethune, Square R. 32d. 7.5; _unm._ Capt. E. Leslie Boase, commanding D Coy. to which he belonged (himself killed in France in Aug. 1916), wrote: “He was to me not only a comrade-in-arms, but also a friend. I have known young Nicholson to volunteer for a very dangerous bit of work, and keep at it unflinchingly till finished without, so to speak, turning a hair. He went at Neuve Chapelle twice with me, his Capt., on quite a dangerous errand of mercy--voluntarily, and if anything had been necessary to assure me of his bravery, I had it then. His death came like a cruel blow to me.” A comrade, L-Corpl. W. C. Andrews, wrote: “There was not a man in the platoon who was not his friend. I knew him and liked him in civilian days, but it was out here, amid hardships and dangers, that I learned how splendid in manhood he was; how fine and fearless in thought and act. I never knew him do or say a mean thing. He was the very soul of chivalry. Long shall we miss his cheery laughter, his little acts of exquisite courtesy and thoughtfulness.” Another comrade, L.-Corpl. Joseph Lee, wrote: “He passed to his death in the fearless manner in which he faced all that was uncongenial to one of his refined and artistic disposition in our present environment.” The editor of “Answers,” wrote: “As fine a fellow as ever donned a Black Watch kilt; he sent home several of the most realistic letters from the firing-line that have been published since the outbreak of the war.” And the “Dundee Advertiser” remarked: “It is indeed a singularly promising career which has been cut short. While yet a mere boy, he had acquired a bright, clear and forcible style of writing; he had both fancy and wit; he had read much and felt a keen interest in all human affairs. His achievement already was considerable, and there can be no doubt that, with matured powers and wider experience, he would have attained distinction as a journalist and writer of fiction. Some of his poems written at the Front have won high praise from qualified critics for their fine feeling and delicate phrasing, while his prose descriptions of battlefield scenes are full of vigour.” Among his writings may be mentioned his recruiting appeal “A call from the trenches,” which was printed in pamphlet form and given away by the military authorities in street distribution; some charming verses entitled “On hearing a lark singing at dawn in the trenches,” and a poem of singular beauty, “The Crucifix,” which has been widely cited and which would alone suffice to stamp the writer as a poet of a very high order. His brother David was also killed in action (see his notice).

=NICHOLSON, JOHN CHARLES=, Private, No. 10347, 3rd Battn. Coldstream Guards, _s._ of John William Nicholson, of 15, Villa Terrace, Alexandra Street, Hull; _b._ co. York; served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders; killed in action at Zillebeke, 19 Nov. 1914; _unm._ Buried there.

=NICHOLSON, LAWRENCE CAIL, D.S.O.=, Lieut., 3rd, attd. 1st. Battn. Princess Charlotte of Wales’ Royal Berkshire Regt., 4th _s._ of Frederick William Nicholson, of Shiplake, Henley-on-Thames, by his wife, Annie, dau. of Benjamin Cail, of Maidenhead; _b._ Maidenhead, co. Berks, 30 Aug. 1882; educ. Uppingham; was embodied with Militia 1 year 38 days, and attd. to Regulars 362 days; served in South African War with Mounted Infantry, 1899–1901; was gazetted 2nd Lieut., 14th (King’s) Hussars, 26 March, 1902, and promoted Lieut. 24 Jan. 1905; retired and joined the Special Reserve of Officers; appointed Lieut., 3rd Berkshire Regt., 28 July, 1914; went to France, 30 Aug. 1914, attd. to the 1st Battn.; “led and commanded his platoon admirably during an attack on German position Passchendaele-Becelaere Road, which resulted in the taking of the enemy’s trenches and 70 prisoners,” for which he was awarded the D.S.O. [London Gazette, 1 Dec. 1914]; was wounded in action near Ypres, 23 Oct. 1914, and died of wounds in London. 2 Nov. following; _unm._

=NICHOLSON, LEONARD SAMPSON=, 2nd Lieut., 1/12th Battn. (The Rangers) The London Regt. (T.F.), 2nd _s._ of John Nicholson, of Tanshelf Mills, Pontefract, co. York, Matting Manufacturer, by his wife, Elizabeth (West View, Ackworth Road. Pontefract), dau. of Leonard Sampson, of Humburton Grange, Boro’bridge, Yorks; _b._ Pontefract, 14 July, 1890; educ. King’s School, Pontefract; on leaving school he entered a wholesale iron and steel business in London; became a member of the Polytechnic, and in March, 1909, joined The Rangers; volunteered for Imperial service on the outbreak of war, and left for France with his battn. on Christmas Eve, 1914, holding the rank of Platoon Sergt.; gazetted 2nd Lieut. 14 April, 1915. He was killed in action at Verlorenhoek, during the Second Battle of Ypres, 2 May following. His Commanding Officer. Lieut.-Col. A. D. Bayliffe, wrote: “His death was a great loss to the Rangers; he would have made a very valuable officer had he been spared.” He was greatly esteemed by his men and, to quote from a letter written by one of them, “there was not a man in his platoon who would not have died for him if occasion had arisen. He faithfully upheld the honour of the British Army, and died doing his best for King and Country.”

=NICKLIN, GEORGE=, Acting Chief Armourer, 342117, H.M.S. Hawke; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914.

=NICOL, ALEXANDER=, 2nd Lieut., 1/5th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (T.F.), 4th _s._ of the late John S. Nicol, of 85, Brisbane Street, Greenock, Coal Merchant, by his wife, Agnes Berwick, eldest dau. of the late Charles Mill, of Greenock, Shipowner; _b._ Greenock. 5 Nov. 1893; educ. Greenock Academy; was qualifying as a C.A. with Messrs. Kidston, Goff & Findlay, C.A., Glasgow. He received a commission as 2nd Lieut., 1/5th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 16 Jan. 1914; volunteered for Imperial service on the outbreak of war; went to the Dardanelles in June, 1915, and was killed in action during the attack on the Krithia-Achi Baba position, Gallipoli, 12 July following; _unm._ Two of his brothers, Capt. C. M. Nicol, R.A.M.C. (Regular Army prior to outbreak of war), and Lieut. John E. Nicol, R.N.V.R., are (1916) on active service.

=NICOL, FRANK=, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., Ch. B. 7237), S.S. 102206, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=NICOL, HUGH JOHN=, Sergt., No. 741, 1/4th Battn. The Royal Scots (Lothian Regt.) (T.F.), 2nd _s._ of the late John Nicol, of Edinburgh, Principal Stamper, Inland Revenue, by his wife, Ann S. (1c, Maxwell Street, Edinburgh), dau. of John McIntosh, of 2, Bangholm Terrace, Edinburgh; _b._ Edinburgh, 11 Nov. 1889; educ. South Morningside Board School there; and was in the office of the Assistant Secretary and Comptroller, Inland Revenue, Edinburgh. He had joined the 4th (Territorial) Battn. of the Royal Scots in 1909, and after the outbreak of war volunteered for Imperial service; went to the Dardanelles with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force and was killed in action there, 28 June, 1915; _unm._ He was a member of St. Matthew’s Parish Church, Edinburgh. His brothers, Corpl. David Nicol, No. 13266, Cameron Highlanders, and L.-Corpl. William C. Nicol, No. 4130 (Highlanders) Royal Scots, are both on active service.

=NICOL, WALTER=, Stoker, 1st Class, K. 14678 (Ports.), H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=NICOLSON, JOHN=, Private, No. 2283, 2nd Battn. Australian Imperial Force, 4th _s._ of John Nicolson, of 5, Lower Ollach, Braes, Portree, Skye, Crofter, by his wife, Margaret, dau. of John Ross, of Camusknioag; _b._ Braes, aforesaid, 15 July, 1896; educ. Braes Public School, and Portree Higher Grade School, Skye; went to Australia, 3 May, 1914; volunteered for Imperial service on the outbreak of war, and was killed in action at the Dardanelles between 6 and 9 Aug. 1915; _unm._

=NIGHTINGALE, WILLIAM ARTHUR=, A.B. (R.F.R., I.C. 84), 140682, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

=NILSON, CECIL EDGAR=, Private, No. 2063, D Coy. 3rd Battn. (Royal Fusiliers) London Regt. (T.F.), _s._ of Julius Nilson, of 12, Welham Road, Streatham, S.W., Organ Tuner, by his wife, Emma Annie, dau. of the late William Goodwin Brightling, of Kennington, S.E.; _b._ Kennington, 19 Aug. 1894; educ. L.C.C. School, Mitcham Lane, Streatham; was employed by Liberty & Co.; enlisted on the outbreak of war, 31 Aug. 1914; was terribly wounded in action, 24 Feb. 1915, and died in a Clearing Hospital at Merville, France, the same evening; _unm._ Buried in the cemetery there. A comrade wrote: “I am very sorry to inform you that our comrade Nilson got wounded on a working party the other day. We were out at a place which is named by our troops as ..., and I can assure you it was a perfect hell. The Germans had a machine-gun trained upon the gates and at night to get to our duty posts we had to dodge a perfect fusilade of shot. In front of our post one could see two dead cows which could not be buried owing to the terrific danger, and it was at this place when our friend Nilson was shot. We were working at night strengthening a trench when the Germans sent up a very brilliant star shell followed by heavy fire.... The Leicesters with whom we were working informed me that they had never seen a man bear such pain so bravely; the shot entered his back and went through his stomach.”

=NIXON, FRANCIS EUGENE ARCHER=, Ship’s Steward, 219829, H.M.S. Pathfinder; lost when that ship was sunk by a mine, about 20 miles off the East Coast, 5 Sept. 1914.