Saturday 21 May 2011

Private Joseph Lees Nicholls

Born on 12 June 1882 in Coatbridge, Lanarkshire, Scotland - son of Joseph and Sarah Nicholls, Coatbridge, Lanarkshire, Scotland - father an apple plumber - brother of Mrs. W.L. Nicholls, Lesinchow, Lanarkshire, England - brother of John, Mary, Alexander, Rachel and William Nichols - at the time of his enlistment in 1915: student at the University of Saskatchewan; single; no current or previous military service; Presbyterian; height of 5 feet 7.5 inches; chest of 35 inches fully expanded; fair complexion; grey eyes; dark hair.

Joined the 38th Battalion, CEF, in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, on 19 March 1915 (number 411084) - transferred to Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry in France on 16 July 1915 - killed in action on 2-4 June 1916 - official report: "Killed in action [during] attack at Sanctuary Wood." - buried in Ypres Reservoir Cemetery (grave VI.E.58), Belgium.

His name is listed on the Memorial Gates at the University of Saskatchewan.

(sources: Library and Archives Canada (www.collectionscanada.gc.ca), online attestation papers; ibid, RG 150, Accession 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; 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; General Register Office for Scotland, 1901 Scotland Census (via www.ancestry.ca); "Memorial Gates (University of Saskatchewan)", wikipedia.org (accessed 15 May 2011))

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