Name
Eustace Alfred Morley Nichols
1893
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
20/07/1916
22
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Second Lieutenant
Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment)
2nd Bn., attached 15th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
GUARDS' CEMETERY, LESBOEUFS
V. A. 2.
France
Headstone Inscription
"NO MAN IS ABLE TO PLUCK THEM OUT OF MY FATHER'S HAND"
UK & Other Memorials
Ind Plaque, St Augustine’s Church Memorial, Broxbourne
Pre War
Eustace Alfred Morley NICHOLS was born in Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, in late 1893, son of Edward Charles Nichols a Steamship Owner and Broker and Sarah Nichols (nee Longman). The youngest of three children.
He was Baptised at the church of St Augustine, Broxbourne, Herts.
1901 Census records Eustace aged 7, living with his father Edward, at “Aberdour” St Catherine's, Hoddesdon, Herts. His mother was away from home on the night of the Census. The family had three liv-in Domestic Servants, a Cook, Parlour maid and a Children’s Maid. His aunt Isabel Nichols was living with the family.
1911 Census, Eustace aged 17, is employed as a Clerk, living with his parents, Sister Dorothy (21) and brother Charles (20), at 19 The Crescent, Wimbledon Park, Surrey.
His parents later moved to 12 Prestonville Road, Brighton, Sussex.
Wartime Service
Eustace enlisted in September 1914, into the Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex Regiment). He was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant to the Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment) in April 1915. On 12th May 1916, he was sent to France, joining the 15th Battalion in the field.
The Battalion was ordered to the Somme for the forthcoming offensive. On the morning of the 20th July 1916, while leading an attack on Maltz Horn Farm, near Hardcourt, Eustace was hit by several bullets and killed near the German trenches, he was 22 years of age, he was initially buried near where he fell. Later buried in the Guards Cemetery, Lesboeufs, Somme, France. Greave Reference: V. A. 2.
His sergeant wrote: "He was fearless; I have seen him carry a wounded officer into safety under shell fire."
Additional Information
His effects of £72-19s-02d, went to his estate to be administered by his father Edward Charles Nichols.
His Headstone inscription “NO MAN IS ABLE TO PLUCK THEM OUT OF MY FATHER’S HAND” was requested by his father Edward Charles Nichols.
His elder brother Major Charles Brian Nichols M.C. of the Suffolk Regiment survived the war.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Richard Barber
