Pte 52884 Charles Fleetwood McNicoll

• Age: 28
• From: Southport, Lancs
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
• D.O.W Tuesday 16th April 1918
• Commemorated at: St Sever Cem Ext Rouen
  Panel Ref: P.IX.P.3B

Charles Fleetwood McNicoll was born in the March quarter of 1890 the son of William Herbert and Anna Maria Adelaide (née Robertson), called Minnie. His father was a stockbroker, born in Liverpool, and his mother was from Southport. They married in 1882 at Holy Trinty Church, Southport and had four daughters and two sons.  Charles had older siblings Dorothy Rose, born in 1883, Kathleen Nora 1885, David Hesketh 1886, and Florence Josephine 1887, and a younger sister Cicely Jeannette, born in 1891. 

Charles lived all his life at The Newlands, 28 Park Road, Southport, opposite the green space of Hesketh Park. The land for the park was donated to the town by his maternal great grandfather, Rev. Charles Hesketh. 

At the time of the 1891 census they have five children, and four domestic servants, Charles is 1. 

They are at the same address in 1901, with six children and four servants. His father is a stockbroker agent, employer, Charles is 11. 

In 1911 his father is 61, a stockbroker, his mother Minnie is 52.  No occupations are listed for his four sisters: Dorothy 27, Kathleen 26, Florence 23, and Cicely 19.  His brother David is 24, a stockbrocker’s clerk, and Charles is 21, a bank clerk.  Also in the household is retired nurse Mary Ann Hope, 81, and a domestic servant. 

He enlisted in Southport in about April 1915 and was serving in the 19^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 52884 when he died of wounds on the 16^th April 1918, aged 28, during the German Spring Offensive. Charles was wounded at St. Quentin.  

Charles now lies in St Sever Cemetery Ext, Rouen, France, where his headstone bears the epitaph:

“WHERE THEY NEED NO STAR TO GUIDE WHERE NO CLOUDS THY GLORY HIDE” 

This is an extract from the hymn "As with Gladness, Men of Old".

During the First World War, Commonwealth camps and hospitals were stationed on the southern outskirts of Rouen. A base supply depot and the 3rd Echelon of General Headquarters were also established in the city.

Almost all of the hospitals at Rouen remained there for practically the whole of the war. They included eight general, five stationary, one British Red Cross and one labour hospital, and No. 2 Convalescent Depot. A number of the dead from these hospitals were buried in other cemeteries, but the great majority were taken to the city cemetery of St. Sever. In September 1916, it was found necessary to begin an extension, where the last burial took place in April 1920.

The Cemetery and the Extension adjoin each other but have separate Registers.

During the Second World War, Rouen was again a hospital centre and the extension was used once more for the burial of Commonwealth servicemen, many of whom died as prisoners of war during the German occupation.

The cemetery extension contains 8,348 Commonwealth burials of the First World War (ten of them unidentified) and in Block "S" there are 328 from the Second World War (18 of them unidentified). There are also 8 Foreign National burials here. The adjoining St. Sever Cemetery contains 3,082 Commonwealth burials of the First World War. There is also 1 French burial and 1 non war service burial here.

The extension was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield.

His Army effects and a War Gratuity of £15 went to his mother Anna. No pension card has been found, suggesting that Charles had no dependents, or that no claim was made. 

Probate of Charles’ estate was granted to Edmund Dickson, solicitor, in the amount of £1,117-10s-1d. 

By the time the CWGC corresponded with the family regarding his headstone, both his parents had died, and his next of kin was his eldest sister Dorothy, Miss D. R. McNicoll, The Newlands, 28 Park Road, Southport. 

Charles is commemorated on the family headstone in St Cuthbert’s Church, Southport which shows his father William Herbert McNicoll died on 17th April 1913 and his mother Anna Maria Adelaide died 0n 04th April 1922. Also buried in the grave are Charles' siblings David, Florence and Dorothy Rose.  

                                      In Loving Memory

                       ALSO OF CHARLES FLEETWOOD McNICOLL

19TH KING’S LPOOL RGT. (PALS) THE DEARLY LOVED SON OF THE ABOVE

         WHO DIED OF WOUNDS RECEIVED IN ACTION AT ST. QUENTIN,

                       FRANCE.  APRIL 16TH 1918, AGED 28 YEARS.