Heslop's Local Advertiser
Photo: Geordie at War Project
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
John Joseph Nicholson, known as John, was born at Felling in 1885, the eldest of 2 sons he also had 4 sisters. His father Joseph Nicholson was a native of Jarrow, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, born 1849, he was married at Newcastle in 1874 to Alice Collins born 1857 at Stanhope, County Durham. In 1881, living at 10, Durham Street, Elswick, Newcastle, with his wife and two daughters, Joseph was a boot and shoe maker by trade, four years later when John Joseph was born they had moved to High Street, Heworth, near Gateshead. By the time John Joseph was 16 years old he was not listed as being employed, however, his father ran his own business making shoes and boots from their home address of Coldwell Street, Heworth, he may well have assisted him.
During 1905 John Joseph Nicholson married in the district of Gateshead Ellen Hamblett, born December 22nd 1886, native of Hindley, Manchester, Lancashire. Their son John Joseph Hamblett Nicholson was born at Penshaw, County Durham in 1908, their second child, the first, gender unknown having died in infancy. Employed as a coal miner-hewer John and his family were living at 8, Six Houses, Washington Staiths, County Durham in 1911.
On the outbreak of war he enlisted at Washington in 1914 and was assigned as Gunner 22054 to the Royal Horse Artillery and Royal Field Artillery. Training completed he was attached to the 250th Brigade R.F.A., 50th Northumbrian Division.
The division departed to France during 1915 participating during the Second Battle of Ypres, April 22nd-25th May 1915 at St Julien. It was not until the next attack at Frezenberg Ridge, May 8th, that for the first time the division’s artillery was in action, the Howitzers firing from positions west and north of Ypres and the field guns south of Potijze. The artillery remained attached to the division around Ypres until the end of May and remained in Belgium until August 1916 when they moved to the Somme in France participating at the Battle of Flers-Courcelette, Morval, Transloy, Butte de Warlencourt, followed by the Battles of Arras in 1917 at the Battles of the Scarpe, returning to Belgium during the Third Battle of Ypres 1917. February 1918 the division and its units were reorganised due to shortages of manpower in preparation for the spring offensive. The Germans after the ceasefire with Russia used troops from the Eastern Front to launch an attack on the West. The Division and its artillery were caught up in three of the German assaults that spring together with the 19th, 21st and 25th Divisions. During his service Gunner Nicholson was awarded the Military Medal for bravery in combat on land.
Gunner 22054 John Joseph Nicholson Royal Field Artillery M.M. was wounded and died of wounds sustained in battle, June 14th 1918. He was buried at Labry Communal German Extension his grave marked with a cross bearing his military details. After Armistice and during the clearing of the battlefields the position of his grave, map reference Labry C. C. Ext. Trench Grave 53 and that of 5 other British Servicemen and one airman were found and exhumed October 7th 1924. Although the graves had been marked the remains could not be identified as being unequivocally British. The remains were therefore brought into Chambieres French National Cemetery, Metz, Moselle, France and reburied, grave reference Labry Com. Cem. German Extension Memorial 6. At the time of his demise he was 32 years old. His wife commissioned an addition inscription to be added to his headstone at a cost of 16 shillings and 7 pence, it reads, “A Loving Husband True And Kind-A More Faithful Father None Could Find”.
His widow Ellen received all monies due to him, a pension for herself and her son along with his awards of the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal and Military Medal sent to her at 51, Broad Oak Road, Parr, St. Helens, Lancashire as she had remarried in 1919 James Cook at Prescot, Lancashire. Details of her death unknown.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
In Gateshead East Cemetery is a family headstone which reads:
In
loving memory of
Joseph
the beloved husband of
Alice Nicholson
died Sept. 18th 1914
aged 65 years.
Also
Bombardier J.J. Nicholson, M.M.
their eldest son
died of wounds received in action
June 14th 1918 Aged 34 years.
Also Annie Guy, granddaughter
died Feby. 11th 1921
in her 22nd year.
Also Alice
beloved wife of the above
died July 2nd 1930
aged 73 years.
Also Alice
Maud Allison
died March 23rd 1945
aged 64 years.
The family tombstone within Gateshead East Cemetery, Gateshead, County Durham, commemorates the sacrifice of Gunner Nicholson and is the final resting place of his family members. His father Joseph Nicholson died at Gateshead just after the declaration of war, September 18th 1914 aged 65 years, his mother Alice Nicholson nee Hamblett died aged 73 years, July 2nd 1930. Also buried there is Annie Guy their eldest daughter Elizabeth Jane Guy nee Nicholson’s child who died February 11th 1921 aged 21 years and their daughter Alice Maud Allison nee Nicholson born 1881 and who died aged 64 years, March 23rd 1945.
Heslop's Local Advertiser 24/11/1917 reports:
"On Oct. 19th, Gunner Joseph Nicholson, R.F.A. and Petty -Officer Thos. Elliott, R.N.D., received their Military Medals at the Imperial Hall. Mr. Geo. Nicholson presented the medals, and Mr. R. Heslop the watches, etc. Coun. P. Bennett presided."
John Joseph Nicholson is remembered at Heworth on H92.03 and possibly at Felling on F32.22 and F32.23
