NICHOLSON, Haughton Forest
| Service Number: | 798 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 1 March 1915, Melbourne |
| Last Rank: | Lance Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 23rd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Bathurst, NSW, 1890 |
| Home Town: | Elsternwick, Glen Eira, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Melbourne C of E Grammar School |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Died: | Died of wounds, France, 28 May 1917 |
| Cemetery: |
St Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen P I G 2A |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Melbourne Grammar School WW1 Fallen Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 1 Mar 1915: | Enlisted Australian Army (Post WW2), Private, 798, 23rd Infantry Battalion, Melbourne | |
|---|---|---|
| 10 May 1915: | Involvement Private, 798, 23rd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '14' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Euripides embarkation_ship_number: A14 public_note: '' | |
| 10 May 1915: | Embarked Private, 798, 23rd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Euripides, Melbourne | |
| 28 May 1917: | Involvement Lance Corporal, 798, 23rd Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 798 awm_unit: 23 Battalion awm_rank: Lance Corporal awm_died_date: 1917-05-28 |
Help us honour Haughton Forest Nicholson's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Sharyn Roberts
Son of John Lambert and Louise NICHOLSON
HAUGHTON FORREST NICHOLSON who died of wounds received in action in France on 28th May 1917 was the only son of the late Dr. John L. Nicholson, surgeon to the 12th Infantry Regiment, U.S.A., at Capas, Luzon, Philippine Islands, and nephew of Dr. G. C. Nicholson of Brighton, with whom he lived from childhood.
He was born in 1891 and was at the School in 1904, and won the
under 15 swimming championship. After leaving School he came into prominence as a swimmer with the Brighton club, winning many races. He went in for a country life, but never lost touch with the School. He left Australia in May 1915 and was a member of the 23rd Battalion and saw service on Gallipoli. At the time of the torpedoing of the "Southland" H. F. Nicholson's ability as a swimmer came into requisition. He was on a sister troopship, and when the disaster became known many postcards were written to anxious friends in Australia, but there were no means of forwarding them from Lemnos till Nicholson and Winstanley undertook to swim with them to a ship then preparing to sail for Egypt. Winstanley wisely, after strenuous exertion, transferred his letters to Nicholson and returned
to Lemnos. Nicholson succeeded in reaching the ship, where he received an ovation.
During his service in France he acted as interpreter, and in arranging for the billeting of his company came into close contact with the French civilians, of whom as a people he formed a very high opinion. After two years' continuous service be was mortally wounded during an attack on the Hindenburg Line on or about 4th May, and died in the 9th General Hospital at Rouen on 28th May 1917.
One comrade writes from France : "Tod Nicholson has done his duty to his King and country. He never missed an action with the brigade, which is a record with which few can compare." Another says: " Remember the splendid cause for which he gave his life. Believe me, there is one outsider (the writer) who will share with you the memory of that fine, fearless comrade who never shirkd his
duty." Again another wrote: " We lose many comrades, but never before have I known the loss of one so keenly felt, for Tod was universally liked throughout the whole brigade. His generosity and soldierly qualities were admired by all." A returned soldier from Gallipoli said : " When 'Tod' Nicholson's parcels came we
always knew we each would get our share of the contents." And so on.
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