Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Early Life

Hugh John Gay Nicholson was born on 16th September 1895, at North Unley, SA, the only child of Donald Nicholson and Flora Dinah Richardson (SA Birth Registration 571/398). Hugh’s father, Donald was a Sub-Inspector in the police force in 1920.

Hugh attended Sunday School at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian in Unley in 1907.

Schooling

Hugh attended Kyre College (which became Scotch College in 1919) from at least 1909 to 1912. He passed his Junior Examinations in 1910 and his Senior Examinations in 1912.

In December 1911 he was involved in presenting a scene for Shakespeare’s Henry IV, part 1, act 3, scene 1 when Hugh played Worcester with J. T Ashton (Hotspur), E. Foster Skewes (Glendower) and H. X. Curnow (Mortimer).

Hugh came third in the 120 yards hurdles at the Kyre College Sports in September 1909. In 1912 Hugh won the 100 yards flat in the Intercollegiate race at the Christian Brothers College Sports.

Hugh played football for Kyre and in 1912 he was captain of the First Eighteen.

He completed two years in the Senior Cadets then transferred to the Citizen’s Forces, 28th Engineers, 74th Infantry & 74th Signallers.

Hugh was on the committee of the Kyre College Old Collegians in 1913 and 1914 and was at some stage the secretary of the association. In 1914 he helped contribute to an enjoyable evening at the annual gathering by playing the piano.

University

In 1913, Hugh commenced at Adelaide University and the School of Mines, studying Engineering. In addition to passing University and School of Mines examinations in 1913, Hugh also passed School of Arts examinations in Intermediate Perspective (May 1913) and Second Grade Plane Geometry (September 1913). In December 1916 Hugh was awarded his Bachelor of Engineering from the University of Adelaide and his fellowship diploma in electrical engineering from the School of Mines. He was an unsuccessful applicant for the 1917 Rhodes Scholarship which was won by Hugh William Bell Cairns

University Sport

Football
Hugh played football for Adelaide University in both the B Grade and A Grade in 1913. He also represented the University at the 1913 Intervarsity Football match and played A Grade football in 1914.

Rowing
Hugh rowed for the Engineers at the Adelaide University Schools Boat Regatta in July 1914; the Engineers lost their heat to the School of Arts.

Cricket
Hugh played cricket for the University in a match in January 1916, perhaps covering the absence of players because of War-time service or University holidays.
 
World War I

Hugh enlisted on the 2nd of March 1917 at Adelaide, SA, SN S11218, aged 21 years and 5 months and as an Engineer. He was 5 ’9¼“, 160 lbs, with a fresh complexion, blue eyes and auburn hair. His father, Donald Nicholson of Palmer St, North Unley was his next of kin. Hugh was assigned to the Tunnelling Reinforcements, B Coy, Mitcham, SA and went to Engineering Officers School where he was first a Sapper then an acting Corporal and an acting Sergeant. On the 31st March 1918 Hugh was discharged from the AIF in order to enlist in the Navy.

Hugh joined the Royal Australian Navy 1 April 1918 and was appointed an Engineers Sub Lieutenant.
He was assigned for duty as follows:
• ‘Cerberus’ 1 April 1918 to 29 April 1918
• London Depot 30 April 1918 to 1 July 1918
• ‘Melbourne’ 2 July 1918 to 5 August 1919
• ‘Australia’ 6 August 1919 to 20 January 1920

Hugh was present at the handover of the German Navy in November 1918 and wrote to his father describing the event. Hugh resigned from the Navy on 20th January 1920.

Career & Family Life

In August 1920, the Council of the Adelaide University awarded the Angas Engineering Scholarship to Hugh. Hugh’s 24-page submission for the scholarship was entitled ‘The Burning of Australian Coal in Warships’ and is held in the Adelaide University Archives (Series 372, Student Essays and Theses). The scholarship was tenable for two years and Hugh left in September 1920 for England and America to further his studies.

In October 1921 Hugh was one of eight former students at the SA School of Mines who were gaining experience working at the Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Company (late British Westinghouse).

On his return to Australia Hugh took up a position with Australian General Electric Pty Ltd as an engineer in Melbourne, Victoria. He was living at Lauriston Hall, Wellington Pde, East Melbourne in 1924.

On the 28th of April 1925, Hugh married Marjorie Eleanor Elizabeth Skuthorpe, the elder daughter of Mrs O.T. Skuthorpe, Brentwood, St Kilda Road, Melbourne at Christ Church, South Yarra. The couple were living at 5 Tollington Ave, Malvern East and in 1925 they moved to 185 Toorak Road, South Yarra. In 1928 Hugh and Marjorie were living at 6 Albany Road, Toorak and their only child, a daughter (Margaret Anne) was born there on the 3rd December 1928.

In October 1929 Hugh visited South Australia and attended the celebrations to honour Sir Langdon Bonython’s 40th consecutive year as President of the School of Mines.

Hugh and Marjorie had been living at 420 St Kilda Road, Melbourne and in 1931 they moved to 59 Westbury Street, St Kilda East where they lived until 1949
In 1934, on a visit to Adelaide, Hugh gave an address at the Scotch Old Collegians' Annual Meeting. Hugh attended a dinner at Scott’s Hotel, Melbourne in September 1936 with a group of graduates from the School of Mines and the Adelaide University. Sadly, Hugh’s father passed away on the 16th July 1937 leaving his mother, Flora, a widow.

In May 1944 Hugh was appointed Controller of Electrical Equipment in the Ministry of Munitions and was located at Henty House, 499 Little Collins Street, Melbourne.

For sport, Hugh was now a golfer and he played at the Kingston club. His last abode in Victoria was a East St, St. Kilda.

In July 1951 Hugh, Marjorie and their daughter Margaret Anne moved to South Australia and were living at Heathpool. Hugh played golf at Glenelg.

In January 1952, Margaret became engaged to William Roberts Clifton, son of Mr and Mrs J. Clifton of Kingswood. The couple were married on the 23rd February 1952 at St Columba’s Church, Hawthorn.

In 1952 the cartoonist, Lionel Coventry, at the News drew a caricature of Hugh.

In November 1953, Hugh was the South Australian agent for British Insulated Calender’s Cables Limited when the company ceased to carry on business in the state.

Death

Hugh died on the 17th June 1972 at Kensington Gardens, SA, aged 77 years; he had been residing at Heathpool, SA. He was cremated at Centennial Park Cemetery, RSL Walls W 105 B004. Marjorie passed away on the 1st December 1986 and was cremated at Centennial Park Cemetery.

William Roberts Clifton passed away on the 29th April 2005 (Last abode - Linden Park) and Margaret Anne Clifton passed away on the 31st October 2012 (Last abode - Myrtle Bank).

Author EE (Beth) Filmer

For the complete profile including photographs, newspaper articles, documents and sources prepared for the AUFC/AUCC WWI Memorial Project (in the period 2015-2019) please see the document attached.