2nd Lieutenant Hugh Hathorn Nicholson

• Age: 31
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: Cheshire Regiment 17th Btn
• Died on Monday 24th May 1915
• Commemorated at:

Hugh Nicholson was born on the 16th July 1883, and was baptised on the 26th July 1883 at St. Andrew's Church, Bebington. He was the son of Hugh Nicholson and his wife Margaret Gifford Nicholson.

The 1891 Census shows the family living at Claremont, Clatterbridge Road, Poulton cum Spittle, Cheshire. His father, Hugh, is aged 33, born in Birkenhead in 1858 is a cotton broker, his mother Margaret is aged 32, born 1859 in Scotland and has no occupation listed. They have four children declared in the household; Hugh Hathorn aged 7, Guy aged 6, born 1885, William aged 2, born 1889 and Kenneth born 1891. The family also employ four servants, Ellen Parker aged 30, born 1861 a domestic cook born in Halebank, Lancashire, Sarah Bradshaw aged 30, born 1861 a nurse domestic servant born in Saltney, Flintshire, Jessie Smith aged 18, born 1873 a domestic waitress born in Liverpool as was Annie Bradshaw aged 17, born 1874 employed as a nurse domestic servant. 

Hugh attended Malvern College from 1897-1901.

On the 1901 Census Hugh is at Malvern College and his brother Guy is at Rugby School.

His parents are resident at Sutton Old Hall, Little Sutton, Cheshire. His father is now a 43 year old cotton broker, his mother is 42 years of age.  Also declared in the household is James Broadfoot, a batchelor of medicine, shown as brother in law and three servants. 

There is no record of Hugh on the 1911 Census. (A passenger record dated 20th Jan 1913 on the Carmania from N.Y to Liverpool might explain why there is no record on 1911 Census).

The 1911 Census finds his parents still living at Sutton Old Hall with four servants.  His father is 53 years old and hsi mother is 52. They advise that they have been married for 29 years and have had four children, three of whom have survived. 

Hugh enlisted in Liverpool and joined the 17th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment. Within months he was commissioned and served with the Cheshire Regiment. 

He was killed in action on 25th May 1915 attached to the 2nd Battalion of the Cheshire Regiment

Hugh's death was recorded in the Battalion War Diary:

 'Ypres, 24th May. 4am. Battalion proceeded to Ypres (from Brandhoek) following line of railway south of town and thence into trenches in square I 10 (Sheet 28 1/40000) from which an attack was made on enemy trenches about midnight. Battalion was subjected to a withering shell fire in the morning while advancing over open ground.
11pm 25th May. Battalion relieved and returned to Brandhoek.
Casualties: 5 officers (including Nicholson) and 8 other ranks.' 

The Cheshire Observer reported on his memorial service 19th June 1915:-

HOOTON

Service for the late Second Lieutenant Hugh H. Nicholson of Sutton Hall, Little Sutton, who was killed in action in France on May 25, was held in St. Paul's Parish Church, Hooton on Friday. The service, which was impressive in its simplicity of character, was conducted by the Rev. A.E. Cooper, vicar of Hooton, and the other clergy present were the Rev. Canon W.E. Torr, vicar of Eastham, and the Rev. Percy Douglas (Little Sutton). The choir sang the hymns, "All people that on earth do dwell," "Through the night of doubt and sorrow," and "Peace perfect peace." At the close of the service the organist Mr W. Jenkins gave a fine rendering of Mendelssohn's "O rest in the Lord." Prior to the war Lieutenant Nicholson was associated with the firm Messrs. Nicholson and Wrigley, cotton brokers, of the Cotton Exchange Buildings, Liverpool, of which his father Mr Hugh Nicholson is the senior partner. Lieutenant Nicholson was 31 years of age.

His death was reported in Liverpool Echo 26th June 1915, and Army and Navy Gazette 3rd July 1915.

Hugh is commemorated on the Menin Gate, Ypres, Belgium. 

The site of the Menin Gate was chosen because of the hundreds of thousands of men who passed through it on their way to the battlefields. It commemorates casualties from the forces of Australia, Canada, India, South Africa and United Kingdom who died in the Salient. In the case of United Kingdom casualties, only those prior 16 August 1917 (with some exceptions). United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after that date are named on the memorial at Tyne Cot, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war. New Zealand casualties that died prior to 16 August 1917 are commemorated on memorials at Buttes New British Cemetery and Messines Ridge British Cemetery.

The YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL now bears the names of more than 54,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield with sculpture by Sir William Reid-Dick, was unveiled by Lord Plumer on 24 July 1927. 

He earned his three medals.

He is also commemorated on the War Memorial, and a dedicated tablet set into the church wall at St Paul's Church,Chester Rd,Childer Thornton, Ellesmere Port, Cheshire with the Inscription:

 
TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN LOVING/ MEMORY OF HUGH HATHORN NICHOLSON/ 2ND LIEUT 3RD BATTALION CHESHIRE REGT/ ATTACHED TO 2ND BATTALION, WHO FELL IN/ ACTION NEAR YPRES ON WHITMONDAY 25TH MAY 1915 AGED THIRTY ONE YEARS

Soldiers Effects to brother Guy Nicholson, no Pension record

Probate was awarded to Captain Guy Nicholson:

NICHOLSON Hugh Hathorn of Sutton Hall, Little Sutton Cheshire lieutenant Cheshire regiment died 25 May 1915 in Flanders on active service. Administration (with Will) London 20 December to Guy Nicholson captain HM Army. Effects £1603 11s 8d.  

His brother Guy Berners Nicholson survived the war, serving as a Lt and Captain with the RAMC.

Hugh was a shareholder in the The Great Western Railway following the death of John McGill. John's shareholding was transferred to Hugh in March 1894. 

Hugh is also commemorated in the Hall of Remembrance, Liverpool Town Hall at Panel 19.

His father and brother died in 1929 and both of their Wills were declared in the London Daily Chronicle on 08th May 1929:

WILLS OF FATHER AND SON

The Wills of a father and son were published yesterday.

Mr Hugh Hathorn Nicholson, of Chester and formerley of Liverpool, cotton broker, known as the Grand Old Man of the Liverpool Cotton Trade, who died on February 7 in his 100th year, left £202,644. 

After a number of bequests he left one third of the residue to his son Charles Maxwell Nicholson of Chester and Liverpool, also a cotton broker who pre-deceased his father on January 10 last, leaving £8,143.  

The extract below was taken from Liverpool's Scroll of Fame.

Second-Lieutenant Hugh Hathorn Nicholson was one those of those British heroes who fell during the successful but costly Battle of Ypres in 1915, when the enemy's desperate onslaught was definitely stemmed. Gentle, kindly and retiring in manner, and with a natural fondness for the quieter joys of home, he had not the typical soldiers temperament. What he had, nevertheless, was a keen sense of duty, and this it was that bade him apply himself at once to the hard tasks of war and meet all their perils unflinchingly.

He was the son of Mr. Hugh Nicholson, of Sutton Hall, Cheshire, and for his education he went to Moorland House, Heswall, and Malvern College. Later he was apprenticed to the cotton business with Messrs. Watson & Co, then went to America on buying expeditions, and in 1908 came home to join his father's firm Messrs. Nicholson & Wrigley. He was most assiduous in business, and those who knew him, and felt the genial influence of his personality, were speedily attracted by his excellent qualities.
Golf was his favourite pastime.

When war broke out he was one of the first to volunteer his services, and was attached to the 17th City Battalion. Within a couple of months, however, he was promoted to a commissioned rank, and was gazetted to the 3rd Cheshire Regiment. He went to France in the following May, becoming attached to the 2nd Battalion. Lamentably short as was his army career--- he survived only a few short weeks of active service--- he proved himself a fearless and resolute officer. His service was rendered at a time when our thin lines bent before the enemy--bent but never broke--and when the New Army were doggedly fighting side by side with the remnants of the "Old Comtemptibles."
It was on May 25th that Nicholson's unit, after gallantly capturing a trench and gallantly holding it throughout the night, were ordered to retire at dawn. During a difficult retirement he was killed. He was a splendid officer, who had given a superb exhibition of pluck, and at thirty two years of age, he gave his country all he had without demur or complaint.     

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