L/Cpl 22191 John Joseph Nickle

• Age: 21
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• K.I.A Sunday 30th July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

His mother died in December 1897 at the age of 40, when John was 3 years old, their residence 16 Stanhope Street, and his father died just before Christmas in 1899 aged 44, living in Harbord Street, Edge Hill, leaving £153 11s 6d.

After their parents' deaths, his older sisters kept the family together and took care of their younger siblings.

In 1900 all six siblings are found as passengers on the S.S. Rhynland sailing from Liverpool on the 05th December for Philadelphia: Eleanor 21, Catherine 19, Gertrude 15, Nora 11, George 9, and John, 5. They returned to Liverpool on the Pennland in April 1901. The purpose of the trip is not fully known but their mother had a half-sister, Catherine Gandy, who was living in New York (from a family tree).  

Eleanor married Albert Newman Smith in 1903. 

In 1911 John is living with his single sisters at 8 Jamieson Road, Wavertree.  Catherine, 28, is head of household, Gertrude, 26, Nora, 22, and John, 16, are all employed as insurance clerks. Eleanor lives in Strathcona Road, Wavertree, with her husband and four children; George, 20, a cotton clerk, is visiting the Bannister family in Pleasant Road, Eccles, Lancashire.

Gertrude married Joseph O'Connor later in 1911, Catherine married Frederick Clayton in 1912, and Nora returned to the U.S. in 1916 and settled in New York.  

Before enlisting John worked as a purser for the Holt Line (however, he is not listed on the Alfred Holt Blue Funnel Line Memorial).

He enlisted on the 06th November 1914 at Liverpool joining the 20th Battalion as Private 22191. He gave his age as 20 years and 310 days and his occupation as a purser. He was described as being five feet six inches tall, weighed 114lbs, 34” chest, with a fresh complexion, blue eyes and brown hair. He stated his religion as Roman Catholic and gave as his next of kin, his sister Eleanor, Mrs. A. N. Smith, 21 Strathcona Road, Wavertree, later changed to 126 Seabank Road, Liscard, Cheshire.  Also listed as next of kin is his brother George, 42 Denton Drive, Liverpool (Liscard in reality), later crossed out. 

The 20th Battalion was formed in November 1914 and were originally billeted at Tournament Hall, Knotty Ash before on 29^th January 1915 they moved to the hutted accommodation purposely built at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 19th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. 

His service records show the following: 

08.12.14: Appointed paid Lance-Corporal.

21.2.15: At Knowsley. Absent from church parade 9.45am. Deprived of Lance stripe on 24.2.15 and reverted to Private.

16.7.15: At Grantham. Absent from 10.00pm till 03.30am 17/7/15. Confined to barracks for two days.

07.11.15: Embarked for France with his battalion.

04.5.16: Appointed unpaid Lance-Corporal.

01.7.16: Appointed paid Lance-Corporal.

He was serving in the 20^th Battalion (No1 Company) when he was initially declared Missing during the attack on Guillemont, and his death later officially accepted as having occurred on 30th July 1916.

The 20^th King’s Battalion Diary records:

“At 4.45am prompt the attack was launched. Unfortunately, a thick mist prevailed and it was impossible to see more than 10 yards ahead. This continued until about 6 o’clock when it lifted slightly, but it was still too hazy and impossible to see what was happening 100 yards ahead. This being so, it was not surprising to find that the attacking waves were experiencing great difficulty in maintaining connection.”

At 6am, Lt. RE Melly, No.1 Company, reported that his men had taken the German Maltz Horn trench.

At 6.30am, 2/Lt. CP Moore reported that he had 150 men, 4 Stokes Mortars and 2 Lewis Guns, but he was the only officer. He also said that due to the fog, both his “flanks were in the air” i.e. he was not in contact with neighbouring troops.

At 9.10am, Moore was still not in contact at his flanks, and now he had only 75 men, he had sent out 2 patrols and neither not returned. Later Moore established communication with the French on his right.

Around 10.00am, 2/Lt Musker reported that he had just over a company with him, but his left flank was suffering from German machine gun fire. Later he reported that he had over 30 casualties from the machine gun fire. His flanks were also “in the air”. No contact was made with this party until the remnants returned around 9.30pm, all runners sent were killed or missing. The War Diary states that this group had: ”held the ground won all day, and this permitted the consolidation of the ground won on the Maltz Horn ridge with little interference from the enemy”.

Relief for 20/Kings had been planned for 11.00pm, but it was 5.00am on the 31st July before it took place, ending a tragic day for the Liverpool Pals.

Casualties for 20^th Battalion were 16 Officers and 357 Other Ranks

When darkness fell on the battlefield the 30^th Division held a line from the railway on the eastern side of Trones Wood , southwards and including Arrow Head Copse, to east of Maltz Horn Farm. On this line the division was relieved by the 55^th Division during the early hours of the 31^st July. 

The events of 30^th July 1916 were regarded at the time as Liverpool’s blackest day. There follows an extract from The History of the 89^th Brigade written by Brigadier General Ferdinand Stanley which gives an indication of the events of the day.

Guillemont

Well the hour to advance came, and of all bad luck in the world it was a thick fog; so thick that you couldn’t see more than about ten yards. It was next to impossible to delay the attack – it was much too big an operation- so forward they had to go. It will give some idea when I say that on one flank we had to go 1,750 yards over big rolling country. Everyone knows what it is like to cross enclosed country which you know really well in a fog and how easy it is to lose your way. Therefore, imagine these rolling hills, with no landmarks and absolutely unknown to anyone. Is it surprising that people lost their way and lost touch with those next to them? As a matter of fact, it was wonderful the way in which many men found their way right to the place we wanted to get to. But as a connected attack it was impossible.

The fog was intense it was practically impossible to keep direction and parties got split up. Owing to the heavy shelling all the Bosches had left their main trenches and were lying out in the open with snipers and machine guns in shell holes, so of course our fellows were the most easy prey.

It is so awfully sad now going about and finding so many splendid fellows gone.

John's body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial. 

The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Over 90% of those commemorated died between July and November 1916. 

On 01st August 1932 the Prince of Wales and the President of France inaugurated the Thiepval Memorial in Picardy. The inscription reads: “Here are recorded the names of officers and men of the British Armies who fell on the Somme battlefields between July 1915 and March 1918 but to whom the fortune of war denied the known and honoured burial given to their comrades in death.”

His Missing status was reported in the local press to have changed to killed in action:

“Missing” in July last, Lance-Corporal John J. Nickle, who resided with his sister at 42, Denton Drive, Liscard, is now officially reported “killed in action.” His brother, Corpl. George Nickle, R.F.A., was killed in action last September. Lance-Corporal John Nickle who was a very good tenor vocalist, was employed with Messrs. Alfred Holt and Co., Liverpool. 

Chronicle News Liscard Soldier's Fate (February 1917) -

Official information has now been received at his home, 42, Denton Drive, Liscard, that Lance-Corporal John J. Nickle (22191), who was previously posted as missing in July of last year, is now reported killed. He was wounded on July 30th, and picked up by stretcher-bearers, but he could not be traced as having reached the dressing station. Recommended for a commission, the gallant young fellow, who was only twenty one years of age, was formerly employed as a purser in the service of Messrs Alfred Holt and Co. He joined up in the early days of the war, and had been out in France nearly twelve months. It will doubtless be recollected that a brother of the deceased, Corporal George Nickle, was also recently killed in action. Deep sympathy will be extended to Mrs. O'Connor and Miss Nora Nickle, the sisters of the fallen young men, who have sustained an irreparable loss.

John's death was not the only devastating blow the family faced in 1916 as his brother Corporal 108807 George Nickle (Royal Field Artillery) was killed just weeks after John on 03rd September 1916, aged 26. He now rests at Dantzig Alley British Cemetery, Mametz, France.

A poignant notice was placed by their sisters in the Liverpool Echo on 30th July 1917, under the heading, “Lost At The Battle Of Guillemont”:

“To the memory of our only beloved brothers, Jack and George, killed in action July 30 and September 3, 1916. R.I.P. – Their Sisters. 

John was remembered on the second anniversary of his death in 1918:

"Nickle - To the beloved memory of our dear brother, John Joseph (Jack), K.L.R., killed in action, July 30, 1916, aged 21 years.  Lovingly remembered by his sisters.  R.I.P."

John earned his three medals. His 1914-15 Star (J. G. Nickle) was returned for amendment in 1920. 

His Army effects  of £2 18s 3d were shared between his sisters Catherine Clayton, Gertrude O'Connor, Nora, and Eleanor Smith;  brother George's share went to Eleanor, who also received the War Gratuity of £7-10. No pension card has been found for John or George, indicating that they had no dependents. 

John and George are both commemorated on the following memorials -

Wallasey Civic Memorial

Wallasey Roll of Honour, Victoria Central Community Hospital

Our Lady of Lourdes and St. Bernard R.C. Church, Toxteth 

Liverpool Cotton Association 

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