Name
Ernest Nicholes
12 June 1886
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
24/10/1917
31
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Rifleman
A/203426
King's Royal Rifle Corps
16th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
LOUVERVAL MILITARY CEMETERY, DOIGNIES
B. 6.
France
Headstone Inscription
THY WILL BE DONE
UK & Other Memorials
Little Gaddesden Village Memorial,
St Peter & St Paul Church Roll of Honour, Little Gaddesden,
St Peter & St Paul Church Roll of Honour (2018 Revision), Little Gaddesden,
Family grave in Little Gaddesden churchyard,
We are not aware of any memorial in Ringshall - see Little Gaddesden,
Ivinghoe War Memorial, Bucks,
King's Royal Rifle Corps Roll of Honour, Winchester Cathedral,
Pre War
Ernest Nicholes was born on 12 June 1886 at Wards Hurst, near Ivinghoe, Bucks, the son of Charles and Annie Nicholes and one of 4 children. He was baptised at St Peter & St Paul's Church, Little Gaddesden on 22 August 1886. On the 1891 Census, the family were living at Wards Hurst Farm, Ivinghoe, where his father was the Farmer.
On the 1891 Census the family were living at Wards Hurst Farm, Ringshall, Ivinghoe, where his father was the farmer.
He attended Little Gaddesden School and left at age 14 on 11 January 1901 to work as a Draper's Apprentice in Aylesbury and was living at 28 Market Square, Aylesbury (accommodation for shop workers) on the 1901 Census.
By the 1911 Census, he had moved to London and was living in employee accommodation at 112 Gower Street, St Pancras and working as a Draper's Assistant. for Shoolbred & Co.
His family remained at Wards Hurst Farm, Ringshall.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in London into the Kings Royal Rifle Corps and was later attached to the 16th Battalion, London Regiment (The Queen's Westminster Rifles).
He was killed in action in France on 24 October 1917, aged 31 and is buried at Louveral Military Cemetery, France.
Additional Information
His father, Mr C H Nicholes, Wards Hurst, Ringshall, Berkhamsted, ordered his headstone inscription: "THY WILL BE DONE"
His father received a war gratuity of £5 10s and pay owing of £12 2s 11d.
N.B. His younger brother William who served in the Hertfordshire Yeomanry survived the war and is also named on the Little Gaddesden Roll of Honour.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
littlegaddesdenchurch.org.uk, Jonty Wild, www.dacorumheritage.org.uk, hemelatwar.org.
