WILLIAM HENRY NICHOLS
William is not remembered on the war memorial at Christchurch Park.
Born: 21st June 1877, Ipswich.
Died: 22nd September 1914; age 37; killed in action with submarine in the North Sea.
Residence: 38, Turin Street, Ipswich.
Occupation: a Platelayer at Great Eastern Railways, Lower Yard, Ipswich – since July 1908.
Enlistment Location: Chatham, Kent; signed up for 12 years on the 21st June 1895. Height: 5ft 2 1/4ins, dark complexion, brown eyes & brown hair. Scar over right eye.
Service:
Impregnable – Boy 2nd Class – 12th May 1893
Impregnable – Boy 1st Class – 10th May 1894 – 8th October 1894
Pembroke – Boy 1st Class – 9th October 1894 – 22nd January 1895
Hood – Boy 1st Class – 23rd January 1895 – 23rd March 1895
Cruiser – Boy 1st Class – 24th March 1895
Cruiser – Ordinary Seaman – 21st June 1895 – 15th August 1895
Hood – Ordinary Seaman – 16th August 1895 – 7th September 1896
Pembroke I – Ordinary Seaman – 8th September 1896 – 6th November 1896
Mercy – Ordinary Seaman – 7th November 1896
Mercy – Stoker 2nd Class – 4th November 1897 – 21st May 1898
Severn – Stoker 2nd Class – 22nd May 1898
Pembroke II – Stoker – 26th January 1899 – 17th February 1899
Forte – Stoker – 18th February 1899 – 19th April 1899
Pembroke II – Stoker – 15th May 1902
Audacious – Stoker – 7th October 1902
Pembroke II – Stoker – 16th September 1903 – 4th January 1904
Resolution – Stoker – 5th January 1904 – 20th June 1904
Swiftsure – Stoker – 21st June 1904 – 7th June 1906
Pembroke II – Stoker – 8th June 1906
Pembroke II – Stoker 1st Class – 1st July 1906 – 8th August 1906
Ganges – Stoker 1st Class – 9th August 1906 – 20th June 1907 – shore.
Character – Very Good.
Joined Royal Fleet Reserve – Chatham B.4613 – 29th June 1907.
Re-enrolled 22nd July 1911 – to serve to 28th June 1917.
William was called up to the Royal Navy at the commencement of the war.
Aboukir – Stoker 1st Class – 2nd August 1914 – 22nd September 1914.
Rank: Stoker 1st Class; Servicer Number: 173115.
Regiment: Royal Navy, H.M.S.’Aboukir‘ (Royal Fleet Reserve Chatham Port. B. 2nd period of enlistment) 4613).
Memorial Reference:
Panel 5.
Kent.
Relatives Notified & Address: Son of the late William Nichols, of Ipswich; husband of the late Agnes L. Nichols.
CENSUS
1881 141, Princes Street, Ipswich.
William was 3 years old and living with his parents, sisters & paternal uncle.
William Nichols, 49, a Gatekeeper – Great Eastern Railways, born Marlesford, Suffolk.
Eliza Nichols (nee Cole), 42, born Middlesex.
Alice R. Nichols, 19, born Ipswich.
Lily Mary Nichols, 10, born Ipswich.
John Nichols, 40, an Army Pensioner.
1891 Henslow Cottage, Henslow Road, Ipswich.
William was 13 years old and living with his father, brother, step mother and her children.
William, 60, a Timekeeper – Railway.
Lydia Nichols (nee Herring (1st marriage Smith)), 53, born Bredfield, Suffolk.
Thomas Edward Smith, 29, a Coachbuilder, born Bredfield.
Bertha Ada Smith, 20, born Croydon, Surrey.
John Bertie Nichols, 9, born Ipswich.
In 1901, William’s wife was living with his widowed father at 44, Pauline Street, Stoke, Ipswich.
William, 69, a Gatekeeper – G.E.Railway.
Agnes, 26.
1911 32, Mumford Road, Ipswich.
William was 33 years old, a Labourer – Great Eastern Railway. He was married and Head of the Household.
Agnes, 36.
William, 79, an Old Age Pensioner – late Gatekeeper – G.E.Railway.
William’s mother, Eliza Nichols died 1884, Ipswich.
In 1899, Ipswich, William married Agnes Louisa Hamilton, born 1874, Ipswich.
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