Pte 50670 Edward Nicholson

• Age: 20
• From: Manchester
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Wednesday 8th May 1918
• Commemorated at: Tyne Cot Memorial
  Panel Ref: Panel 31-34

Edward Nicholson was born in 1898 in Manchester and was baptised on the 25th May 1898 at St James Church, Collyhurst, Manchester. He was the son of William Edward and his wife Mary Ann Nicholson (nee Gurden), of 23 Alma St, Queen's Park, Manchester who had married in 1896 at St James Church, Collyhurst.. 

The 1901 Census shows the family living at 111, Husband Street, Manchester.

The father William Edward aged 30, born 1871 is a paper hanger who was born in Ireland. His wife Mary Ann aged 25 with no occupation listed was born in Manchester. They have two children, Edward aged 3, born 1898 and Elizabeth born 1901. Both children were born in Manchester. Elizabeth was to pass away September 1901 before her 1st birthday.

The 1911 Census shows the family now living at 23 Alma St Harpurhey, Manchester.

The father William Edward now aged 42, (Census records his year of birth as 1869 and that he was born in Belfast) and employed as a house painter. His wife Mary Ann aged 36 is employed as a brush maker. They have been married for seventeen years and have had two children of which one had died. Edward their only child is now aged aged 12 (Census showing his year of birth as 1899). Their daughter Elizabeth had died in 1901.  

He enlisted in Manchester and was serving in ‘C’ Company, 11th Platoon of the 17^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 50670 when he was killed in action on the 8^th May 1918 aged 20 during the German Spring Offensive.

The 17th Battalion were at this time in the Vierstraat Sector. the diary reports that the day passed quietly until the afternoon.

The front line ran through Klein Vierstraat Cabaret. At 4.30 pm it was reported that the Germans had advanced and were now in " our original front line". At 7.10 pm A and B company's of the 17th Battalion were ordered to move forward in artillery formation from support line with object of co-operating with French troops who were advancing towards the enemy. At 08.10 pm the advance was reported to be going well on the left but nothing could be seen on the right. The situation at the end of the day was that the 17th Battalion were holding the line alongside several other units but casualties were heavy. Captain Norman Henry and Second Lieutenant Dudley Hammond Black were killed in action alongside 17 other ranks one of whom was Edward Nicholson.  

Edward was initially declared Wounded and Missing following the action on 8th May 1918.His mother, at 22 Alma Street, contacted the British Red Cross on 02nd August 1918. Still seeking information on her son’s fate months later, contacted the International Red Cross but was notified in a reply dated 19th November 1918 that they held no information on Edward.  She later lived at 28 Moltke Street, Belfast.

Edward's body was never recovered from the battlefield or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial in Belgium.

Those United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after August 16th 1917 are named on the Tyne Cot Memorial, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war.

The Tyne Cot Memorial now bears the names of almost 35,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Herbert Baker with sculpture by Joseph Armitage and F.V. Blundstone, was unveiled by Sir Gilbert Dyett on 20 June 1927.

The memorial forms the north-eastern boundary of Tyne Cot Cemetery, which was established around a captured German blockhouse or pill-box used as an advanced dressing station.

Manchester Evening News 11th June 1918

MISSING

Pte Edward Nicholson (50670) King's Liverpool Regt., wounded and missing since May 8th. Mother: 23 Alma Street, Queen's Road, Manchester.

Soldiers Effects to father Edward, Pension to mother Mary Ann.

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