Name
Thomas Nicholls (MM)
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
26/04/1918
22
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
203352
Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment)
1st/4th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Military Medal
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
HARINGHE (BANDAGHEM) MILITARY CEMETERY
V. A. 3.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Christchurch Plaque, now in Holy Trinity Church, Bengeo, Hertford Town Memorial
Pre War
Born in 1895, in Hertford, to parents William and Ellen (nee Piggott), he had three brothers and three sisters, in 1911 they were living at 15 Cowbridge, Hertford. His father was employed as a builder’s labourer and Thomas was an assistant butcher.
Information added by Jackie Robinson:
Thomas was the younger brother of Annie Nicholls who later became Annie Heffer. Eric Heffer the MP for Liverpool was her son, therefore Thomas's nephew. Eric Heffer wrote a book, 'Never a Yes Man' mostly about his political life and he did a chapter on his life in Hertford.
Thomas's brother Charlie Nicholls owned the sweet shop and tobacconists at 14 Market Place, Hertford and his other brother Ernest William Nicholls owned the greengrocers EW Nicholls at 97 High Street, Ware.
Thomas's father William Nicholls was the older brother of Samuel Nicholls of Ware who's wife was Mercy Nicholls the murdered, as it turned out, prostitute, in 1899, an event that shook up Hertford Constabulary as none of her 49 stab wounds were fatal, she died because the police wouldn't attend.
Wartime Service
Enlisted at Hertford, date unknown. Landed at Boulogne on 14th April 1915. In 1916 they fought on the Somme at Montaubon, Trones Wood and Pozieres. The following year they were involved in the Operations on the Flanders coast, and then in the 3rd Battle of Ypres at Poelcapelle.
After the German offensive in March 1918 the battalion then fought at the Battles of the Lys in April and Thomas died of wounds received during one of these encounters.
According to Eric Heffer's book (mentioned above) Thomas was a pacifist and stretcher bearer.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Malcolm Lennox, Terry & Glenis Collins, Jackie Robinson
