Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Keith Raymond Nicholls (1923–2008)

Biography

Keith Raymond Nicholls was born on 11 May 1923 at Renmark, South Australia, the son of Alfred George Nicholls and Mabel Gertrude Brooks. He grew up during the interwar years in regional South Australia before moving to Adelaide as a young man.

At the age of 18 years and 4 months, Keith enlisted for military service during World War II, joining the Australian Military Forces on 24 September 1941 at Hindmarsh, South Australia. At the time of enlistment, he was employed as a clerk and was living at Mile End.

Keith initially served under the service number S45658 (Citizen Military Forces), and later under SX18530 following his enlistment for broader service with the Australian Imperial Force (AIF). His records note a medical classification that included defective vision, though he was still deemed fit for service. He served within Australia during the war years and was honourably discharged on 11 July 1946 following the end of hostilities.

Shortly after returning to civilian life, Keith married Helen Ruth Tee on 14 November 1946 at St Cuthbert's Church, Prospect, South Australia. Their marriage united the Nicholls and Tee families and marked the beginning of a long partnership.

In the post-war years, Keith and Helen relocated to Victoria, where they established their home in Melbourne's south-eastern suburbs. Electoral records place them in Bentleigh, Bentleigh North, and later Cheltenham, where they lived for many decades.

Keith lived through a period of significant change in Australia, from the hardships of the Great Depression and the upheaval of World War II to the prosperity and expansion of the post-war era.

In later life, he moved to the Queensland–New South Wales border region, residing at Tweed Heads.

He passed away on 14 July 2008, aged 85 years, at John Flynn Hospital, Gold Coast, Queensland. His death notice described him as:

"Late of Tweed Heads, formerly of Adelaide."

Family

Parents

Alfred George Nicholls (1898–1945)
Mabel Gertrude Brooks (1898–1992)
Spouse

Helen Ruth Nicholls (née Tee) (1923–2012)

Burial & Commemoration

Keith is commemorated at Enfield Memorial Park, South Australia, within the family grave shared with:

His wife, Helen Ruth Nicholls
Her parents, Archibald & Elsie Tee

Military Summary

Service: Australian Military Forces / AIF
Service Numbers: S45658, SX18530
Enlisted: 24 September 1941, Hindmarsh, SA
Discharged: 11 July 1946
Occupation (pre-service): Clerk

Disclaimer

This biography is based on official National Archives of Australia service records, South Australian BDM indexes, cemetery records, and newspaper notices indexed via the Ryerson Index.

All key life events are supported by primary or near-primary sources. Some contextual details—particularly residential history—are drawn from electoral rolls and supporting genealogical data and should be considered supplementary unless confirmed by additional primary documentation.

Biography by Trevor Pyatt 4/05/2026