NICHOLLS, Samuel
| Service Number: | 5078 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 7 April 1917, Brisbane, Qld. |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 31st Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Plympton, England, 1874 |
| Home Town: | Springsure, Central Highlands, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Suicide, Springsure, Queensland, Australia, 4 June 1928 |
| Cemetery: |
Springsure Cemetery |
| Memorials: | Toowoomba Queensland Railways Toowoomba Employees Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 7 Apr 1917: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 5078, 31st Infantry Battalion, Brisbane, Qld. | |
|---|---|---|
| 14 Jun 1917: | Involvement Private, 5078, 31st Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '16' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Hororata embarkation_ship_number: A20 public_note: '' | |
| 14 Jun 1917: | Embarked Private, 5078, 31st Infantry Battalion, HMAT Hororata, Sydney |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Faithe Jones
Son of George NICHOLLS and Mary NICHOLLS nee TOMS
NOK Brother, Frederick Walter Nicholls, Consuelo Station, via Rowellston, Springsure, Queensland
Inspector O'Hara has been advised by the Springsure police of the death of Samuel Henry Nicholls, a single man, 62 years of age. Nicholls, who was employed by the Bauhinia Shire Council, was camped on the Wealwan dangle-road, five miles from Springsure. The deceased and another ganger, who shared the same tent, went into the township on Saturday. They returned late Sunday afternoon, and early the next morning the deceased's mate, while lying in bed, heard the report of a rifle. On investigating he found Nicholls lying dead, with a rifle between his legs, and blood streaming from his mouth.
A brother, who resides in the Springsure district, is the deceased's only relative in Australia.
A CASE OF SUICIDE.
An Elderly Man.
IN SPRINGSURE DISTRICT.
Inspector O'Hara has been advised by the Springsure police of the death of Samuel Henry Nicholls, a single man, aged 62 years, who took his own life. Nicholls, who was employed by the Bauhinia Shire Council, was camped on the Wealwandangie-road, five miles from Springsure. Two of the four men in the gang went into Springsure on Friday night and the deceased and Ganger James Stevens, who shared the same tent, went into the township on the Saturday. While in town they did some business and had some drinks. They returned late on Sunday afternoon and Jackson did not notice anything strange about deceased's behaviour.
Early next morning Nicholls boiled the billy and gave Jackson a drink of tea. He then went outside again and a little later, while still lying in bed, Jackson heard the report of a rifle. He called out and asked Nicholls what he was shooting at. As he received no reply, he went outside to investigate and found Nicholls lying dead with a .22 calibre rifle between his legs and blood running from his mouth.
It is thought that, after giving Jackson a cup of tea, the deceased secured a rifle from another tent and, resting the butt of the rifle on the ground, held it with his heels and knees, held the muzzle in his mouth with one hand and pressed the trigger with the. other.
A brother of the deceased, who also resides in the Springsure district, is deceased's only relative in Australia.
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