Ian Scott has submitted the following:
No. 28099, THOMPSON, Pte Nichol, 12th (Service) battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, died of wounds at No. 64 Field Ambulance, 4th July 1916, and is buried in Mericourt-l'Abbé Communal Cemetery Extension.
Son of Mrs Frances Thompson of West Street, Wooler, he was born c 1886 at New Bewick, Northumberland. In 1911 Frances Thompson and her son Nicholas were living Ramsey's Lane, Wooler. Frances Thompson was apparently unmarried. Nicholas or Nichol was working as a groom before enlisting.
Nichol Thompson was posted to the 12th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, which was part the 62nd Brigade, 21st Division. The division had landed in France in September 1915, but Nichol Thompson was most probably part of a later reinforcement. He was wounded during the Battle of Albert (1st-13th July 1916). The 21st Division was part of XV Corps in Rawlinson's Fourth Army. On 1st July the 62nd Brigade had supported the forward Brigades by carrying up ammunition and supplies. On the night of 2nd July and early morning of 3rd July the 62nd Brigade took over the positions in the front line held by 64th Brigade. The 12th Northumberland Fusiliers had the 10th battalion Yorkshire Regiment was on its right and the 1st battalion Lincolnshire Regiment on its left, and the 12th and 13th Northumberland Fusiliers were in support. Orders were given for an attack on Shelter Wood. The casualties from the 12th battalion Northumberland Fusiliers on 3rd July included 37 men killed. It is likely that Nichol Thompson was wounded between the 1st-3rd July and very probably during the operation against Shelter Wood.
Nichol Thompson is remembered in Wooler on W68.01, W68.02 and W68.03
