First World War captain given CWGC headstone more than a century after his death

An army captain who died during the First World War will be honoured in a ceremony at Winchester (West Hill) Old Cemetery tomorrow (Thursday 2 November), with a CWGC headstone 102 years after he died.

Captain John Henry Nicholson, of the Army Ordnance Department (AOD), died aged 51 at 7.30am on 6 November 1915 at Avington Park Camp, Hampshire, when he accidentally shot himself while cleaning his own revolver before going on duty.

At the time, authorities never reported his death to the CWGC. This meant John was never given a Commission headstone or remembered on the Roll of Honour.

However, thanks to John’s Great Grandson, David Nicholls, who researched his death and brought it to the attention of the CWGC, John can now be commemorated by the Commission.

Born in the Alresford district of Hampshire, John joined the army when he was 19 years old. Throughout his career as a professional soldier, John was also a Senior Warrant Officer and Company Sergeant Major in the Royal Artillery, until he started working for the AOD.

He married his wife, Alice Benson, in 1889 and they had seven children, Grace, Sidney, May, Hilda, Kenneth, Cyril and Elsie.

Tragically, John and Alice lost two daughters - Grace to Scarlet Fever when she was only seven-years-old and two-year-old May to diphtheria.

Les Kibble, CWGC’s Regional Manager for the South East, said: “We are always honoured to be able to commemorate those who died during both world wars and to make sure they are remembered for their sacrifice – whether their death was on the battlefields abroad or here on home soil.

“Now that John has a Commission headstone, everyone who comes to visit this cemetery will know he fought for his country and that he should always be remembered for that.”

David Nicholls, John's Great Grandson, added: “According to press reports at the time of his death, my Great Grandfather was a well-known and respected officer in both Colchester Garrison and the wider community. He was a devout Christian, a Presbyterian, and an active member of Lion Walk Church, Colchester.

“During his previous posting of three years in Hong Kong, he was involved with building a mission there. On a lighter side, my Great Grandfather was also a keen sportsman, capable of beating much younger men at tennis when he was 50-years-old.”