Percival Frank NICHOLSON

Percival ‘Percy’ Nicholson was born on 9 February 1885 in Richmond, Victoria. His parents were Frank and Emily (née Mott) Nicholson. He attended Scotch from 1899 to 1900.

Percy was a bank clerk when he enlisted on 28 June 1915 in Melbourne, Victoria. He served in the 57th Battalion with the rank of 2nd Lieutenant. His Regimental Number was 3106.

Percy died on 5 April 1918 at Villers-Bretonneux, France. He was 33 years of age.

Service record

Thirty-year-old Percy was just 5 feet 5 inches (165 cm) tall on enlistment, but was a fine sportsman. He represented Victoria at Lacrosse. He was allotted initially to reinforcements to the 6th Battalion. In Egypt in January 1916 he was taken on strength of the 6th Battalion, but on February 1916 he was transferred to the newly-formed 58th Battalion. He did not stay long, for on 11 March he joined the 57th Battalion, which would be his final home. He was made orderly room clerk with the rank of Sergeant. On 17 June he sailed from Alexandria, arriving at Marseille six days later. He attended a school of instruction for five weeks in January and February 1917 and then on 31 March was sent to England for officer training in Cambridge.

On 4 August 1917 Percy qualified as an infantry lieutenant in the AIF. On 18 August he proceeded overseas to France. Four days later he was back with the 57th Battalion, now as a 2nd Lieutenant. He was wounded in action in the Ypres fighting on 25 September 1917. He received a gunshot wound to the left arm and was transferred to England in October. The wound was diagnosed as ‘a perforating G.S.W. of anterior surface of upper third of left arm, entry on inner side, exit in front…No injury to important structures.’ He was released for training in January 1918, but returned to hospital later that month for an unspecified operation.

He rejoined his unit in France on 8 February 1918. In mid-March he was sent for 11 days to the 5th Division Signal School. Soon after returning, on 5 April, he was killed in action. His Red Cross Wounded and Missing file contains several accounts of his death. Sergeant Leonard Walker was alongside him in a reserve trench near Corbie and Villers-Bretonneux when shrapnel struck him in the neck, killing him instantly (see below).

Percy Nicholson is buried in the La Neuville British Cemetery (Plot II, Row G, Grave No. 7), France.

Photographs and Documents:

Sergeant Walker’s account of Percy Nicholson’s death.

Sources:

1. Australian War Memorial – Roll of Honour and Red Cross Wounded and Missing file
2. Mishura Scotch Database
3. National Archives of Australia – B2455, NICHOLSON PERCIVAL FRANK
4. Scotch Collegian 1919
5. The AIF Project - https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=223647