The Queens Own Royal West Kent R

The Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment

Lance Corporal H A E Nicholls

Photograph by "International Wargraves Photography Project"

Lance Corporal Herbert Arthur Edward NICHOLLS, L/9197, 6th Battalion, Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment, killed in action, Flanders France, 18th July 1917.

Born Walmer, Kent, son of Jessie & Jane Nicholls, Nutfield Farm, Paddock Wood Kent / Heath? Farm Cottage, Petersfield, Hampshire / Littleton Farm, Reigate, Surrey.

Brothers - William Nicholls, Pembury End, Tunbridge Wells, Kent; Albert James Nicholls, with parents.

Enlisted Maidstone, Kent, age 19 years & 5 months, height 5ft 6 inches, weight 127lbs, fresh complexion, blue eyes, brown hair, large scar left buttock. Formerly cowman.

1911 Census - Military, India - Herbert Arthur Edward Nicholls, Private, age 21, single, 2nd Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment, Soldier, born Walmer, Kent.

1911 Census - 35 Dragon Street, Petersfield, Hampshire - Jesse Nicholls, head, age 50, married, cowman, farming, worker, born Tyler Hill, Canterbury; Jane Nicholls, wife, age 47, married 26 years, 6 children, 5 still alive, born Wye, near Ashford, Kent; *******Bertie James Nicholls, son, age 18, single, cowman, farming, worker, born Whitfield near Dover; James Henry Wakeford, boarder, age 19, single, cowman, farming, worker, born Cocking, Sussex; Jesse Nicholls, grandson, age 2½ years, born Tunbridge Wells, Kent; William A Francis, boarder, age 19, labourer general, worker, born Liss, Hampshire.

Home 8th December 1908 to 28th September 1909; India, 29th September 1909 to 31st January 1915; Indian Expeditionary Force "D", 1st February 1915 to 10th June 1916; Home, 11th June 1916 to 6th March 1917; BEF 7th March 1917 to 18th July 1917.

8th December 1908, enlisted & posted Depot, Royal West Kent Regiment; 31st December 1908, posted 1st Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 29th September 1909, posted India & 2nd Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 7th June 1916 to 23rd June 1910, diarrhoea, malaise, stomach out of order, diarrhoea, astringent & Bismuth; 8th May 1911 to 12th May 1911, sand fly fever, 28th May 1911 to 12th June 1911, sand fly fever; 23rd June 1911 to 27th June 1911, Cherat, headache; 27th August 1911 to 1st September 1911, Peshawar, ICT; 3rd November 1911 to 25th November 1911, Peshawar, Eczema; 10th July 1912 to 2nd August 1912, Peshawar, heatstroke, temperature 108º, unconscious, cold sponging, slight temperature for 10 days; 10th August 1912 to 17th August 1912, Cherat, ICT; 12th January 1914, awarded 28 days detention by Commanding Officer for "absence from his post whilst a sentry on Perimeter Guard; 6th February 1914, Detention Barracks, Peshawar, not complying with an order, forfeits i days remission; 8th February 1914, from detention, 1 day remitted; 8th February 1914, to Duty; 14th August 1914, Multan, slackness & talking on Parade, 7 days confined to Barracks; 14th October 1914 to 20th October 1914, Multan, sand fly fever; 8th February 1915 to 30th March 1915, British General Hospital, Basra, measles severe; 17th July 1915 to 3rd August 1915, British General Hospital, Basra, malaria; 9th August 1915 to 2nd September 1915, British General Hospital, Basra, malaria; 20th September 1915 to 15th October 1915, British General Hospital, Basra, Erythema; 2nd February 1916, Butaniyeh, having dirty ammunition on Guard Mounting Parade, 3 days confined to Barracks; 7th February 1916, wounded; 22nd April 1916, Nasiriyah, admitted to Hospital; 23rd May 1916, Busra, invalided to India; 29th May 1916, Hospital Ship "Vita" (British Steam Navigation Company), "???? Nicholls, 2nd RW Kent reported to me on 25th inst. the loss of a small ??? bag containing pay book & razors etc. No trace of bag could be found in ward" - Captain A Clunderson?; 20th June 1916, posted Depot, Royal West Kent Regiment; 20th June 1916 to 17th July 1916, 2nd Western General Hospital, Manchester, Beri - Beri; 21st September 1916 to 26th January 1917, Eastern Command Depot; 27th February 1917, posted 3rd Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 7th March 1917, posted BEF & 6th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 26th May 1917, appointed unpaid Lance Corporal; 26th June 1917, appointed paid Lance Corporal.

4th October 1920, Statement of Relatives, signed by Jesse Nicholls, his mark - Widow, none; Children, none; Brothers - *Jesse Nicholls, age 61, Hunters Hill Cottages, Epping Green, Epping, Essex; Half Brothers - #Jesse Nicholls, age 12, Hunters Hill Cottages, Epping Green, Epping, Essex; Sisters - $Jane Nicholls, age 56, Hunters Hill Cottages, Epping Green, Epping, Essex; Half Sisters - +Clara Jane Wakeford, age 29, Hunters Hill Cottages, Epping Green, Epping, Essex; +Elizabeth Emily Hook, age 34, Pittridgfe, Matfield, Paddock Wood, Kent. *father #brother $mother +sisters

Buried at Monchy British Cemetery, I. H. 3., Monchy-le-Preux, France.

** Private Bertie James Nicholls, 2nd Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment, Service No.G/4086, died 25th September 1915. Commemorated Loos Memorial, Panel 69 to 73, France. Son of Jesse & Jane Nicholls, of Whitfield, Kent.

This page was last updated on 23-Mar-2026.