Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Thomas Walford Nicholl was one of six children born to Charles Walford Nicholl and Isabella Nicholl nee Hardie and was born in Sydney on 23 January 1870. He married Ada Grace Meale on 2 January 1899.

At the time of the outbreak of the Great War, Thomas was working as a meter reader in Sydney. He enlisted in 4th Battalion A. I. F., 9-12 Reinforcements at Liverpool NSW, on 20 July 1915, his service number being 3561. This was during a major campaign for recruitment in NSW, and ' some 36.575 men enlisted, the highest total it would eventuate for any year of the war'. Thomas stated his age as 38 years and six months, height 5'3 and 3/4 inches, chest 31x34 and 1/2 inches and next of kin as, wife Mrs A. Nicholl. Thomas was in fact 45 and six months old and had three dependent children.When the enlistment standards had been lowed in June of that year, and the need to replace the men lost at Gallipoli, an intense and patriotic recruitment porcess began. Thomas was then able to enlist, lowering his age, his height being satisfactory. He continued training at Liverpool NSW till he embarked in Sydney on HMAT Port Lincoln A17, 13 October 1915, arriving in Egypt on 21 January 1916, disembarking at Tel-el-kebir. This was a large training centre fot the A.I.F. reinforcements in Egypt.

On the 16 February 19166 he transfered to the newly formed 56th Battalion A.I.F. as part of the regrouping and expansion of units that took place in Egypt following the disastrous Gallipoli Campaign. This was achieved by combining experienced men and the recently arrived reinforcements. The units first intake of men was raised from the 4th Battalion originating in NSW and under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Allen Humphrey Scott. The Battalion formed part of the 14th Brigade attached to the 5th Australian Division.

In the Unit Diary of the 56th, LT Colonel Scott writes '14th Feb 1916 Tel-el-Kebir. The Bn was formed today' and goes on to talk about who else would be in charge, with much emphasis on the training syllabus.

On the 17 Feb he reports that 'Inspection of reinforcements by Brigadier at 9.00 am - rifel exercise very bad - Reinforcements worse than first appeared'.He continues to write about the conditions of the camp and the problems they face to clean it up, officers going on leave, daily parades, cases of sickness and the general condition of the men, the weather and by the 22rd he reports, ' steady improvemts in rifle excerises and marching improved'.

March sees the Battalion continuing training ' with general improvment, but difficulties with getting equpment'. On the 22nd Scott notes.H.R.H., The Prince of Wales, inspected the Bn, during his tour of inspection of the camp'. The men were given the rest of the day off. The remainder of the month was spent in cleaning up the camp and packing for the march to Ferry Post. Complaints continued about the heat of the day. The battalion reached Ferry Post by the 31st ' with the general condition of the men fair. Water arrangments not satisfactory, lack of horses and transport hinders work'.

The service records tell us very little about the battalion's movements till 17th June when  they embarked on H. T. Hunstend, 'joined the British Expeditionary Force ex Alexandra, disembarking at Marseilles on 29th June 1916'. Thomas was sick on the 9-10th July and admitted to hospital, however by the 17th he was back with the unit. The battalion went into the Battale of Fromelles ( also known as Fleurbaix) at ' 6pm 19th July in full daylight and was thrown against the German front line to help support the massive Brirish offensive then in the balance at the Somme'. Beaumont desribes it as ' a classic of poor planning by the British command, this action resulting in the highest casuality rate, 5,533 dead and wounded, in any twenty- four hours by the A.I.F. on the Western Front'.

On the 21st July Scott writes' message received from Bde Hqrs that Bn would be relieved by the 58th Bn at 10pm. Preparations were immediately made for a move back to billets at Bac St. Maut'.

 Another gap in the service records till 12th October then tells us Thomas had committed an offence. Crime 28 days F. P. no 2 Drunkenness. Dated the 13th Fleurbaix in the War Diaries, Scott writes about the Battalions departure and ' several men were found to be absent'. This was due to the fact a considerable amount of liqor had been given to the men by the civilians prior to the Battalions departure from Fleurbaix. He goes on to talk about the supervision of voting of the men on the Conscription in Australia and preparation of the Battalions move to Point Remy'.

The next entry in the service records of the 3-18th November has Thomas at Rouen being admitted, rheumatism, chest infection and arthritis. He is then at Calais being transfered to England on the hospital ship Cambria. By the 20th he is admitted to the Third London Hospital Wandsworth, "Injury of Joints'.

In August 1914 the Royal Victoria Patriotic School Wandsworth became the Third London General Hospital. Major renovations were required with operating theatres, x-ray departments, medical, ophthalmology and surgical wards fitted out. Medical staff came from the Middlesex Hospital, St Mary's and the University College Hospital, with voluntary Aid Detachment providing much needed administration assistance. However, by 15th January 1917 Thomas had been transferred to the 1st Auxiliary Hospital, Harefield. This 250 acre private home of Australian residents in England was offered as a convescent home for the wounded. Here Thomas stayed for three months before returning to Australia per H. T. Beltano embarking from Plymouth on 17th March. He was discharged from the 56th Battalion 2nd Military District 12th June 1917, medically unfit, Rheumatism.

In the May of 1936, Thomas made an application to the Deputy Commmissioner, Repatriation for assistance and it is not clear if this application was successful as the electoral roll of that year show his occupation as nil. However, his death certificate tells us, Thomas Walford, War Pensioner, dies 14th Aptil 1937 aged 67 of Carcinoma of the stomach at the State Hospital and Home  at Lidcombe and is buried in the Church of England Cemetery Rookwood. Thomas was survived by his sons Charles Walford, Leslie Roy and Thomas Alexander and pre-deceased by his wife Ada Grace. Thomas Walford Nicholl was my Great Grandfather.