Pte 267329 Thomas Nichol

• Age: 21
• From: Bootle, Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• D.O.W Saturday 9th November 1918
• Commemorated at: Avesnes-le-sec Cc Ext
  Panel Ref: D.15

Thomas Nichol was born on the 28th February 1897 at Bootle the son of Thomas Nichol and his wife Margaret (née Tinsley) who were married on 02nd June 1878 at St Alban's Church, Liverpool. They were both illiterate, indicated by their mark X, and consequently did not realise their name was written as Nicholson.

Thomas was baptised on the 21st March 1897 at St Mary's Church, Walton on the Hill, Liverpool, his father was a dock labourer of 34 Back Boundary Street. 

The 1901 Census shows the family living at 3H 3 Ct Fulford Street, Kirkdale. His father, Thomas, is aged 42, born 1859 in Liverpool, is a dock labourer, whilst his mother, Margaret, is aged 41, born 1860 in Liverpool and has no occupation listed. They have five children at home at the time of the Census all of whom were born in Liverpool; Harriet aged 16, born 1885 is a picker in a jam works, Alice aged 14, born 1887, Johanah aged 9, born 1892, William aged 6, born 1895 and Thomas aged 4, born 1897. 

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 5 Fulford Street, Kirkdale. His father, Thomas, is aged 52, and is a master carter and his mother, Margaret, is aged 50 and is a fruit hawker. They have been married for 33 years and have had eight children of which three had died. At the time of the Census they have four children in the household; Johanah aged 20, William aged 15 and Thomas aged 14, have no occupation listed and Lillian is aged 8, born in 1903. 

Other children were Elizabeth Jane Tinsley Nichol and Margaret Nichol. 

He enlisted in Liverpool and was serving with the 18^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 267329.

He died of wounds, aged 21, on the 09th November 1918 during the hundred days offensive which ended the First World War (8^th August-11^th November 1918).

Thomas was reported as died of wounds in the Weekly Casualty List as Nicholl  on Tuesday 07 January 1919: 

Died of Wounds. 

(LIVERPOOL REGIMENT).—Nicholl, 267329, T. (Liverpool); 
 
The authorities have used both spellings of the surname NICHOLL/NICHOL. 

His death was also reported in the Liverpool Weekly Courier on Saturday 08 October 1919; 

Kirkdale Soldier’s Fate. 

Private T. Nichol, K.L.R., aged 20, who was reported wounded and in an unknown hospital in France, is now reported wounded on November 8, 1918 and died on November 9. He was the son of Mrs Margaret Nichol, 2a Fulford Street, Kirkdale, Liverpool. He was gassed and wounded in 1916. 

He now rests at Avesnes-le-Sec Communal Cemetery Extension, France.

The extension was made by the 51st (Highland) Division Burial Officer in November 1918. At the Armistice, it contained 100 burials dating from the period 12-26 October 1918, 46 of which were Seaforth Highlanders and 41 Gordon Highlanders. In 1928, a further 14 graves were brought in from St. Hilaire-sur-Helpe Churchyard and Louvignies-les-Quesnoy Churchyard.

Avesnes-le-Sec Communal Cemetery Extension now contains 114 First World War burials.

The extension was designed by W H Cowlishaw.

His father is still on the Electoral Roll at 2a Fulford Street in 1919, no death record has been found yet. 

On the 1921 Census at 2 Fulford Street widowed mother Margaret is aged 63. 

She stayed at this address with married daughter Lillian Mussell until her death, aged 76, in 1938.  

We currently have no further information on Thomas Nicholl, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.