Pte 15271 Kingsmill Pennefather Nimmo

• Age: 31
• From: Crosby
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Wednesday 28th June 1916
• Commemorated at: Cerisy-gailly Mil Cem
  Panel Ref: II.K.25

Kingsmill Pennefather Nimmo was born on the 23^rd June 1885 in Liverpool. He was descended from an influential family who settled in Ireland when one of them went as a Cornet in Cromwell’s army in the 17^th Century and subsequently was granted an estate. He includes among his ancestors members of the Irish Parliament, professional soldiers and barristers. His great- great grandfather, Kingsmill Pennefather, married the Honourable Mary Lysaght in Australia.

Kingsmill Nimmo’s father, William, a cotton broker born in Manchester, married Ruth, the daughter of Major Pennefather, who was born in Perth, Western Australia, where her father died in 1858. His parents William Nimmo and Ruth Pennefather married 31st July 1879 at St Peters, Formby.

On the 1891 Census, William aged 46, and Ruth, aged 35, with their four children, of whom Kingsmill was the third youngest and their youngest son, were living at Oakhill Park, Liverpool, William is a cotton broker. Their sons, at school - William Pennefather, 9 years; Charles Foveaux, 7 years; and Kingsmill, 5 years - were all born in Great Crosby, while their daughter, Dorothea, was born in 1890 in Old Swan, presumably at Oakhill Park. Also present are nephew Arthur Nimmo Walker 17, and niece Lilias Walker 14, a visitor Amy Lloyd, and 3 servants.

Kingsmill was educated at Loretto School in Edinburgh, beginning his education there in 1900. He continued his education at Merton College, Oxford.

In 1901 they are still living at “Poulevara”, Oakhill Park. His father, William, is aged 56, a cotton brokers agent, his mother, Ruth, is aged 46, with William P. 19, cotton brokers apprentice, Charles F. 17, Kingsmill P. 15, and Dorothea P. G. 10. The family have three servants.

His mother Ruth, died aged 55, on the 18th September 1906 whilst in Callander, Perthshire. Probate 1907:-

NIMMO Ruth of Oakhill Park, Old Swan Liverpool wife of William Nimmo died 18 September 1906 at Callandar Perthshire N.B. Administration Liverpool 3 January to the said William Nimmo cotton broker. Effects £2612 17s. Resworn £2717 9s 7d.

His brother Charles died, aged 25, in 1909. 

In 1911 William Nimmo, widower, and a 62 year old cotton broker, and his son, Kingsmill, 25 years and also a cotton broker, are shown as boarders at the Pwllycrochan Hotel, Colwyn Bay. 

Prior to the war Kingsmill was employed in the Cotton Exchange.

He was a member of West Lancashire Golf Club.

Kingsmill married Mary Roberta Preston on 05th September 1914 at All Saints Church, Stoneycroft, Liverpool. He was a 29 year old cotton broker of Poulevera, Oakhill Park, father William a cotton broker, whilst Mary was aged 25 of Stanley House, Oakhill Park, father Robert a deceased rectifier (wine and spirits).

He enlisted at St George's Hall, Liverpool, joining the 17th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 15271.

He was billeted at Prescot Watch Factory from 14^th September 1914, he trained there and also at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 17th 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. He arrived in France on the 07^th November 1915.

Kingsmill was killed in action on 28^th June 1916, during the build up to the Battle of the Somme.

He was also reported killed in the Liverpool Daily Post on Monday 24 July 1916:

King’s (Liverpools) - Chadwick, 27334  G. O. (Seacombe); Charlton, 24977, J. (Liverpool); Mythen, 16388, W. G. (Liverpool); Nimmo, 15271, K. P. (Liverpool); Hilton, 16523, J. (Bolton); Worrall, 29268, T. (Liverpool);

Kingsmill earned his three medals. 

Soldiers Effects, army pay of £10 2s 9d and war gratuity £8 to father William. No pension record found. 

He was buried close to where he fell in Maricourt Military Cemetery and his grave marked with a cross.  The cemetery was at the south-east corner of the village, on the road to Clery. It was begun by French troops in December, 1914, and was known to the French by the name of Ferme Caudron.  It was taken over by British troops in August, 1915, and used until July 1916.  After the war when graves were concentrated his body was removed and reinterred in Cerisy-Gailly Cemetery where he now rests.

His headstone bears the epitaph:

"Christ is the path and Christ the prize"

Gailly was the site of the 39th and 13th Casualty Clearing Stations during the early part of 1917, and of the 41st Stationary Hospital from May 1917 to March 1918. The villages were then captured by the Germans, but were retaken by the Australian Corps in August 1918. Cerisy-Gailly Military Cemetery (originally called the New French Military Cemetery) was begun in February 1917 and used by medical units until March 1918. After the recapture of the village it was used by Australian units. The cemetery was increased after the Armistice when graves were brought in from the battlefields of the Somme and the following small cemeteries:- BEAUFORT BRITISH CEMETERY was about 300 metres North of Beaufort Church. It was made in August, 1918 (after the capture of the village by the 1st Canadian Division) between the existing German Cemetery and a farm track, and it contained the graves of 56 Canadian soldiers and two from the United Kingdom. BUIGNY-LES-GAMACHES COMMUNAL CEMETERY contained the grave of one soldier from the United Kingdom, buried in July, 1918, by the 26th Field Ambulance. BUIRE COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION, in the commune of Buire-Courcelles, was on the North side of the Communal Cemetery. It contained three German plots and one British, and in the British plot were buried 36 Australian soldiers and four from the United Kingdom. These men fell in September, 1918 except three who were buried by the enemy in the preceding March. MARICOURT MILITARY CEMETERY was at the South-East corner of the village, on the road to Clery. It was begun by French troops in December, 1914, and was known to the French by the name of Ferme Caudron. It was taken over by British troops in August, 1915, and used until July, 1916. It contained the graves of 887 French soldiers, 260 from the United Kingdom and six German. STE. HELENE BRITISH CEMETERY, PONTRUET, was on the East side of the hamlet of Ste. Helene. It was made in September and October, 1918 during the capture of the hamlet by the 46th (North Midland) Division and their attack at Pontruet, and it contained the graves of 88 soldiers and one airman from the United Kingdom, the majority of whom belonged to the 46th Division or the 1st Dorsets. 158 French and 35 German graves were removed to other burial grounds. The cemetery now contains 745 Commonwealth burials and commemorations of the First World War. 114 of the burials are unidentified and special memorials commemorate five casualties buried at Maricourt and Ste. Helene whose graves could not be found. The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

His death was reported in the Liverpool Echo 06th July 1916

– Nimmo – Jun 28 Killed in action age 31, Kingsmill Pennefather, Kings (Liverpool) Regiment. Husband of Berta Nimmo of 30 Alder Road, West Derby and youngest son of William Nimmo, Poulevara, Oakhill Park, Broadgreen.

Also reported in the Liverpool Daily Post on 7^th July 1916: 

 “Pte K.P. Nimmo of the King’s Liverpool Regiment, (“Pals”) has been killed in action in France.  He was a son of Mr. William Nimmo, of Oakhill Park, Liverpool, and was in his 31^st year.  He was well known and highly respected in the cotton market, by being formerly employed by Messrs. William Nimmo and Son, cotton brokers.  He was educated at Loretto, and afterwards at Merton College, Oxford. 

At the outbreak of war he was offered a commission, but this he refused.  Subsequently the “Pals” were organised and he joined them.  He leaves a widow.  Mr. Nimmo’s eldest son is also serving with the colours.

The flag at the cotton exchange is at half mast in honour of the memory of Private Nimmo.”

According to his Loretto Roll of Honour entry, Private Nimmo was in a dug out with five other men when a shell penetrated it, bursting inside. Five of the six men were killed outright, one of whom was Pte Nimmo.  

The battalion War Diary for 26^th – 27^th June records heavy bombardment of front line trenches. OR Killed 17, Wounded 57.

Probate of his estate was obtained at Liverpool on the 08th February 1917 by William Pennefather Nimmo, cotton broker. His home address was 30 Alder Road, West Derby and his effects were valued at £1,786 18s 2d.

His father died, aged 76, on the 03rd August 1920;  

His death was reported in the Liverpool Evening Express on Thursday 05th August 1920:

NIMMO - Aug 3, at Poulevera, Oakhill Park, Liverpool, aged 76 years, William Nimmo. Interment at  Childwall Church tomorrow (Friday). 6th inst. at 2 15 p.m.

Details of his funeral were reported in the Liverpool Evening Express on Saturday 07 August 1920:

FUNERAL OF MR WILLIAM NIMMO. 

The funeral of Mr William Nimmo, who passed away on Tuesday last, at his residence Poulevera, Oakhill Park, Liverpool, took place in the presence of a large gathering representative of the commercial and philanthropic life of the city at the Childwall church yesterday afternoon. Mr Nimmo was well known in Liverpool, where the chief offices of Messrs. William Nimmo and Sons, of which he was the senior partner, are situated, and throughout the county. 76 years of age, he was educated in Scotland, after which he joined the business founded by his father in 1862. He was a member of the Cotton Association since its foundation, and was at business until 14 days before his death. He married in 1879 Miss Pennefather, sister of Mr de F. Pennefather M.P. for the Kirkdale division. Among other philanthropic work he was actively interested in the St Paul's Eye Hospital where his brother-in-law, the late Mr George Walker, did such eminent work as an oculist, and he had been for 30 years a member of the committee and a trustee of that institution. The service was conducted by the Rev. R. F. Winter, a life-long friend of the deceased, and Mr R. W. Whittle who presided at the organ, played “Be thou faithful” and Chopin’s Funeral March. The hymns, “Fight the good fight,” “Abide with me,” and “Now the labourers task is o’er” were included in a very impressive service. The mourners included Mr W. P. Nimmo (son), Miss Nimmo (daughter), Mrs George Walker (sister), Mr W. F. Walker, Mr A. G. Walker (nephews), Miss Walker (niece), Mr de F. Pennefather M.P. (brother-in-law).

His widow never remarried and died, aged 77, in 1967. She was buried on the 26th January 1967 at Anfield Cemetery, her address at the time of her death was 26 Princes Park Mansions.

Her death was reported in the Liverpool Daily Post on Friday 06 January 1967:

NIMMO — January 5, at home, 26 Princes Park Mansions, Liverpool 8, MARY ROBERTA, loved wife of the late Kingsmill Pennefather Nimmo and youngest daughter of the late Mr and Mrs Preston, Stanley House, Oakhill Park, Liverpool. Service at All Saints Church, Oakhill Park, on Monday next at 12 15 p.m., followed by private cremation at Anfield. No flowers please. 

Kingsmill is commemorated on the following Memorials

Loretto School Chapel Edinburgh

Merton College, Oxford

Hall of Remembrance, Liverpool Town Hall, Panel 19
 
Liverpool Cotton Association War Memorial

West Lancashire Golf Club

All Saints C of E church Stoneycroft 

And on the Preston family gravestone in Anfield Cemetery -

             Kingsmill Pennefather Nimmo           

Killed in action at Maricourt June 28th 1916

                       In his 32nd year

        Afterwards interred at Cerisy Gailly

Grateful thanks are extended to Simon Dennis who provided the information that his grandmother was William's sister.  

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