BORN HESSLE, 23/04/1890. KNOWN AS ‘ROLF’. SON OF THOMAS JOHN NICHOLSON (1863-1928) & BEATRICE MARGUERITE NICHOLSON (1867-1946). BROTHER TO ETHEL MART NICHOLSON (1893-1974), THMAS AND ETHEL. THE FAMILY LIVED AT 128, GRAFTON STREET, HULL (1891), 22, LOUIS STREET, HULL (1901) AND “SUNNYMEADE”, STATION ROAD, HESSLE. EDUCATED AT HULL GRAMMAR SCHOOL AND CHRIST’S HOSPITAL. A FORMER ACCOUNTANT & REPRESENTATIVE FOR NEWLAND ORPHANAGE, HULL. HE WAS NOT MARRIED.
HE ENLISTED IN OCTOBER 1915. JOINING THE 1/4TH EYR. APPOINTED AS DRILL SERGEANT AND MUSKET INSTRUCTOR. COMMISSIONED INTO THE SAME REGIMENT, IN NOVEMBER 1917. SERVED IN FRANCE, FORM 06/04/1918. TRANSFERRED TO THE 2ND SHERWOOD FORESTERS. TWICE WOUNDED. AWARDED THE MILITARY CROSS, ON 22/06/1918, FOR GALLANTRY, ATTEMPTING TO RESCUE ONE OF HIS WOUNDED MEN.
HE WAS KILLED IN ACTION AT ST QUENTIN, ON 18/09/1918, AGED 28. HE IS BURIED AT SAVY BRITISH CEMETERY, AISNE, FRANCE.
HIS NAME IS RECORDED ON THE HULL GRAMMAR SCHOOL WW1 MEMORIAL. HIS NAME IS ALSO RECORDED IN THE DE RUVIGNY ROLL OF HONOUR, VOLUME 5, AND INSCRIBED ON THE HESSLE, ROLL OF HONOUR, AT ALL SAINTS PARISH CHURCH.
HIS ONLY BROTHER, PRIVATE, THOMAS NICHOLSON, 8TH EYR, WAS KILLED AT THE SOMME ON 14/07/1916, AGED 24.
