Private George Nicholls

Born on 30 November 1891 in Kent, England - son of J.C. and Elizabeth Francis Ryder, Toronto, Ontario - at the time of his enlistment in 1916: present address same as mother; electrician; single; no current or previous military service; Church of England; height of 5 feet 8.75 inches; chest of 39 inches fully expanded; fair complexion; blue eyes; dark brown hair.

Joined the 126th Battalion, CEF, in Toronto, Ontario, on 18 January 1916 (number 775656) - taken on the strength of the 38th Battalion, CEF, on 4 or 6 December 1916 - killed in action on 26 March 1917 - official report: "Killed in action - while on duty in the trenches South East of Souchez, he was gassed by enemy shells and died almost immediately." - battalion report: with D Company, "Killed while on trench duty while bn in line on VR [Vimy Ridge], casualty occurred night 26 Mar 17 in Granby Trench and caused by fragment of shell which penetrated his neck." - buried in Villers Station Cemetery (grave VII.F.22), France.

(sources: Library and Archives Canada (www.collectionscanada.gc.ca), online attestation papers; ibid, RG 150, Acc. 1992-93/314, War Graves Registry: Circumstances of Death (via www.ancestry.ca; Canadian War Museum, 19740281-001, Manu 58F 2 3, 207th Canadian Infantry Battalion and 38th Canadian Infantry Battalion, Nominal Roll; ibid, 19680229-003, Casualties list of A, B, C, and D Co., 38th Canadian Infantry Battalion; The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa Regimental Museum, A400-0007, Master Personnel List for the 38th Canadian Infantry Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force; Commonwealth War Graves Commission, "Debt of Honour" register, www.cwgc.org)