W.H. Nicholson
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
William Henry Nicholson was the eldest of his siblings who numbered 11 by 1911 of whom only 7 had survived, post 1911 his mother had a further 4 known children. His father Henry Nicholson was born in Haltwhistle, Northumberland, in 1867 and at the age of 3-years was in the care of his grandparents, coal miner Abraham Nicholson and wife Hannah, at Beaumont Cottages, Prudhoe, Northumberland. In the 1881 census Henry is listed as their adopted son, aged 13, already working as a coal miner, he remained with them until his marriage, November 7th 1891 in the parish church of Winlaton, Gateshead, County Durham, to Sarah Ann Peake, born in the district of Hexham, Northumberland in 1876, daughter of William Henry and Phoebe Peake natives of Sidgley, Staffordshire. William Henry was born 1893, in Milkweed (Milkwood) Burn, County Durham, Thomas 1896, Phoebe 1897, Benjamin, September 8th 1898 and Isabella 1901, while they were living at 95, Derwentside, Medomsley, sadly she died in 1902. A miner by trade Henry moved his family to Westwood, birthplace of Charlotte in 1904, Abraham 1908 and Martha in 1910. They occupied 2 rooms at 34, High Westwood, in 1911. Henry now had the stipend of William Henry (18) a hewer and Thomas (15) a driver, to help support his ever growing family, Matthew was born, May 25th 1913 and in little over a year Britain was at war with Germany.
William Henry enlisted at Consett in 1914, initially assigned as Private 20177 before being transferred to the 8th Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment as Private 16704. The 8th Battalion was part of Kitchener’s New Armies, attached to the 62nd Brigade, 21st Division, at Birkhamsted, Hertfordshire, September 22nd. Initially in billets the new recruits were sent to Halton Park under canvas but by November 1914 the camp was a quagmire due to the rain and onset of winter, they were sent back to billets divided between Wendover, Aston Clinton and Western Turville, until huts had been built at Halton Park allowing the Division to return there May 5th 1915 for further training. Training was slow due to a lack of equipment, the first rifles arrived in June, in August they were moved to Whitley Camp in Surrey, where they were mobilised joining the British Expeditionary Force.
Private Nicholson departed with his regiment September 9th 1915 landing at Boulogne, France, and by the 13th the 21st Division was concentrated near St. Omer. The 8th Battalion was in billets at Moulle, where they trained in route marching, bomb throwing, sniping, machine-gun practice and finally in an attack on practice trenches. Two weeks after their arrival they were ordered into the front line trenches, their first major battle was at Loos.
Marching at night they moved out on the 20/21 September arriving at Noeux-les-Mines at 11p.m. September 24th. The opening attack took place the following morning at 6:30 a.m. in the pouring rain. The 8th E.Y.R. and the 10th Green Howards were tasked to support the 15th (Scottish) Division at Hill 70 and at 4:30p.m. they crossed the old front line heading to Loos and were soon in view of the German artillery which rained down shells on the advancing Yorkshires. Both battalion sustained heavy casualties and many of the men trying to make their way back to the British lines under the cover of darkness were killed by friendly fire, taken for attackers. At roll-call, September 27th at Sailly-Labourse the number of casualties was evident, the 8th Battalion had lost 7 officers killed or missing and 12 wounded, 154 other ranks killed or missing and 133 wounded.
Private 16704 William Henry Nicholson East Yorkshire Regiment was amongst the missing and after extensive investigations as to his whereabouts was struck off as killed in action, September 26th 1915. His sacrifice is recorded as one of over 20,000 names inscribed on the Loos Memorial which forms the sides to Dud Corner Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France, commemorating those who fell on the first day of the Battle of Loos until the end of WW1 who have no known grave. Private Nicholson was 22 years of age and single.
His brother Benjamin Nicholson enlisted in the Navy, serving throughout the war and until 1923.
As sole beneficiary Henry Nicholson received all monies due to his son from the Army and his awards of the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal, his mother was awarded a pension, sent to her at 62, Bradley Cottages, Leadgate, County Durham. It should be noted the pension document in error states Private Nicholson died June 20th 1915 at which time he was still in England undergoing training.
At the time of her sons’ demise Sarah Ann was pregnant and gave birth to a daughter Frances during the 4th quarter (Oct/Nov/Dec) 1915, followed by 2 sons, Richard, March 9th 1918 and Clifford in 1920. Within 12 months Henry Nicholson had died, 1st quarter (Jan/Feb/Mar) 1921aged 53-years, Sarah Ann Nicholson nee Peake (52) in 1926, both registered in the district of Lanchester, County Durham. What became of their youngest children is as yet unknown.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
William Henry Nicholson is remembered at Ebchester on E58.05 and at Hamsterley Colliery on H140.04 and at Medomsley on M36.01 and M36.04
