NICHOLSON, JOHN BEVERIDGE, Private, No. 2253, 1/4th (City of Dundee) Battn. The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) (T.F.), eldest s. of the Rev. Thomas Brown Nicholson, M.A., Minister of the Chalmers Street United Free Church, Dumfermline, by his wife, Barbara Stevenson, dau. of the late David Beveridge, of Kingskettle, Manufacturer; b. Hamilton, 24 May, 1894; educ. High School, Dumfermline; was a journalist and a member of the literary Staff of John Leng & Co., Dundee; volunteered on the outbreak of war and joined the 1/4th Black Watch, 10 Aug. 1914; left for France on Tuesday, 23 Feb. 1915, and was killed in action near Festubert, 12 July following, being shot by a sniper while repairing the trenches at midnight. Buried, Grave No. 7, Row H, Sheet, France, Bethune, Square R. 32d. 7.5; unm. Capt. E. Leslie Boase, commanding D Coy. to which he belonged (himself killed in France in Aug. 1916), wrote: “He was to me not only a comrade-in-arms, but also a friend. I have known young Nicholson to volunteer for a very dangerous bit of work, and keep at it unflinchingly till finished without, so to speak, turning a hair. He went at Neuve Chapelle twice with me, his Capt., on quite a dangerous errand of mercy—voluntarily, and if anything had been necessary to assure me of his bravery, I had it then. His death came like a cruel blow to me.” A comrade, L-Corpl. W. C. Andrews, wrote: “There was not a man in the platoon who was not his friend. I knew him and liked him in civilian days, but it was out here, amid hardships and dangers, that I learned how splendid in manhood he was; how fine and fearless in thought and act. I never knew him do or say a mean thing. He was the very soul of chivalry. Long shall we miss his cheery laughter, his little acts of exquisite courtesy and thoughtfulness.” Another comrade, L.-Corpl. Joseph Lee, wrote: “He passed to his death in the fearless manner in which he faced all that was uncongenial to one of his refined and artistic disposition in our present environment.” The editor of “Answers,” wrote: “As fine a fellow as ever donned a Black Watch kilt; he sent home several of the most realistic letters from the firing-line that have been published since the outbreak of the war.” And the “Dundee Advertiser” remarked: “It is indeed a singularly promising career which has been cut short. While yet a mere boy, he had acquired a bright, clear and forcible style of writing; he had both fancy and wit; he had read much and felt a keen interest in all human affairs. His achievement already was considerable, and there can be no doubt that, with matured powers and wider experience, he would have attained distinction as a journalist and writer of fiction. Some of his poems written at the Front have won high praise from qualified critics for their fine feeling and delicate phrasing, while his prose descriptions of battlefield scenes are full of vigour.” Among his writings may be mentioned his recruiting appeal “A call from the trenches,” which was printed in pamphlet form and given away by the military authorities in street distribution; some charming verses entitled “On hearing a lark singing at dawn in the trenches,” and a poem of singular beauty, “The Crucifix,” which has been widely cited and which would alone suffice to stamp the writer as a poet of a very high order. His brother David was also killed in action (see his notice).

NICHOLSON, JOHN CHARLES, Private, No. 10347, 3rd Battn. Coldstream Guards, s. of John William Nicholson, of 15, Villa Terrace, Alexandra Street, Hull; b. co. York; served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders; killed in action at Zillebeke, 19 Nov. 1914; unm. Buried there.

NICHOLSON, LAWRENCE CAIL, D.S.O., Lieut., 3rd, attd. 1st. Battn. Princess Charlotte of Wales’ Royal Berkshire Regt., 4th s. of Frederick William Nicholson, of Shiplake, Henley-on-Thames, by his wife, Annie, dau. of Benjamin Cail, of Maidenhead; b. Maidenhead, co. Berks, 30 Aug. 1882; educ. Uppingham; was embodied with Militia 1 year 38 days, and attd. to Regulars 362 days; served in South African War with Mounted Infantry, 1899–1901; was gazetted 2nd Lieut., 14th (King’s) Hussars, 26 March, 1902, and promoted Lieut. 24 Jan. 1905; retired and joined the Special Reserve of Officers; appointed Lieut., 3rd Berkshire Regt., 28 July, 1914; went to France, 30 Aug. 1914, attd. to the 1st Battn.; “led and commanded his platoon admirably during an attack on German position Passchendaele-Becelaere Road, which resulted in the taking of the enemy’s trenches and 70 prisoners,” for which he was awarded the D.S.O. [London Gazette, 1 Dec. 1914]; was wounded in action near Ypres, 23 Oct. 1914, and died of wounds in London. 2 Nov. following; unm.

NICHOLSON, LEONARD SAMPSON, 2nd Lieut., 1/12th Battn. (The Rangers) The London Regt. (T.F.), 2nd s. of John Nicholson, of Tanshelf Mills, Pontefract, co. York, Matting Manufacturer, by his wife, Elizabeth (West View, Ackworth Road. Pontefract), dau. of Leonard Sampson, of Humburton Grange, Boro’bridge, Yorks; b. Pontefract, 14 July, 1890; educ. King’s School, Pontefract; on leaving school he entered a wholesale iron and steel business in London; became a member of the Polytechnic, and in March, 1909, joined The Rangers; volunteered for Imperial service on the outbreak of war, and left for France with his battn. on Christmas Eve, 1914, holding the rank of Platoon Sergt.; gazetted 2nd Lieut. 14 April, 1915. He was killed in action at Verlorenhoek, during the Second Battle of Ypres, 2 May following. His Commanding Officer. Lieut.-Col. A. D. Bayliffe, wrote: “His death was a great loss to the Rangers; he would have made a very valuable officer had he been spared.” He was greatly esteemed by his men and, to quote from a letter written by one of them, “there was not a man in his platoon who would not have died for him if occasion had arisen. He faithfully upheld the honour of the British Army, and died doing his best for King and Country.”

NICKLIN, GEORGE, Acting Chief Armourer, 342117, H.M.S. Hawke; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914.

NICOL, ALEXANDER, 2nd Lieut., 1/5th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (T.F.), 4th s. of the late John S. Nicol, of 85, Brisbane Street, Greenock, Coal Merchant, by his wife, Agnes Berwick, eldest dau. of the late Charles Mill, of Greenock, Shipowner; b. Greenock. 5 Nov. 1893; educ. Greenock Academy; was qualifying as a C.A. with Messrs. Kidston, Goff & Findlay, C.A., Glasgow. He received a commission as 2nd Lieut., 1/5th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 16 Jan. 1914; volunteered for Imperial service on the outbreak of war; went to the Dardanelles in June, 1915, and was killed in action during the attack on the Krithia-Achi Baba position, Gallipoli, 12 July following; unm. Two of his brothers, Capt. C. M. Nicol, R.A.M.C. (Regular Army prior to outbreak of war), and Lieut. John E. Nicol, R.N.V.R., are (1916) on active service.

NICOL, FRANK, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., Ch. B. 7237), S.S. 102206, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

NICOL, HUGH JOHN, Sergt., No. 741, 1/4th Battn. The Royal Scots (Lothian Regt.) (T.F.), 2nd s. of the late John Nicol, of Edinburgh, Principal Stamper, Inland Revenue, by his wife, Ann S. (1c, Maxwell Street, Edinburgh), dau. of John McIntosh, of 2, Bangholm Terrace, Edinburgh; b. Edinburgh, 11 Nov. 1889; educ. South Morningside Board School there; and was in the office of the Assistant Secretary and Comptroller, Inland Revenue, Edinburgh. He had joined the 4th (Territorial) Battn. of the Royal Scots in 1909, and after the outbreak of war volunteered for Imperial service; went to the Dardanelles with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force and was killed in action there, 28 June, 1915; unm. He was a member of St. Matthew’s Parish Church, Edinburgh. His brothers, Corpl. David Nicol, No. 13266, Cameron Highlanders, and L.-Corpl. William C. Nicol, No. 4130 (Highlanders) Royal Scots, are both on active service.

NICOL, WALTER, Stoker, 1st Class, K. 14678 (Ports.), H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

NICOLSON, JOHN, Private, No. 2283, 2nd Battn. Australian Imperial Force, 4th s. of John Nicolson, of 5, Lower Ollach, Braes, Portree, Skye, Crofter, by his wife, Margaret, dau. of John Ross, of Camusknioag; b. Braes, aforesaid, 15 July, 1896; educ. Braes Public School, and Portree Higher Grade School, Skye; went to Australia, 3 May, 1914; volunteered for Imperial service on the outbreak of war, and was killed in action at the Dardanelles between 6 and 9 Aug. 1915; unm.

NIGHTINGALE, WILLIAM ARTHUR, A.B. (R.F.R., I.C. 84), 140682, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

NILSON, CECIL EDGAR, Private, No. 2063, D Coy. 3rd Battn. (Royal Fusiliers) London Regt. (T.F.), s. of Julius Nilson, of 12, Welham Road, Streatham, S.W., Organ Tuner, by his wife, Emma Annie, dau. of the late William Goodwin Brightling, of Kennington, S.E.; b. Kennington, 19 Aug. 1894; educ. L.C.C. School, Mitcham Lane, Streatham; was employed by Liberty & Co.; enlisted on the outbreak of war, 31 Aug. 1914; was terribly wounded in action, 24 Feb. 1915, and died in a Clearing Hospital at Merville, France, the same evening; unm. Buried in the cemetery there. A comrade wrote: “I am very sorry to inform you that our comrade Nilson got wounded on a working party the other day. We were out at a place which is named by our troops as ..., and I can assure you it was a perfect hell. The Germans had a machine-gun trained upon the gates and at night to get to our duty posts we had to dodge a perfect fusilade of shot. In front of our post one could see two dead cows which could not be buried owing to the terrific danger, and it was at this place when our friend Nilson was shot. We were working at night strengthening a trench when the Germans sent up a very brilliant star shell followed by heavy fire.... The Leicesters with whom we were working informed me that they had never seen a man bear such pain so bravely; the shot entered his back and went through his stomach.”

NIXON, FRANCIS EUGENE ARCHER, Ship’s Steward, 219829, H.M.S. Pathfinder; lost when that ship was sunk by a mine, about 20 miles off the East Coast, 5 Sept. 1914.

NIXON, GERARD FERRERS, Lieut., 129th Battery, Royal Field Artillery, yst. s. of Major-Gen. Arundel James Nixon, of Clone, Ballyragget, co. Kilkenny, D.L., late R.A., by his wife, Maria Lucy, dau. of the late John Laurence, D.L.; b. Stoke, Devonport, 25 Jan. 1891; educ. Cheltenham College and Royal Military Academy, Woolwich; gazetted 2nd Lieut., R.F.A., 23 Dec. 1910, and promoted Lieut. 23 Dec 1913; left for France, Aug. 1914, and was killed in action near Neuve Chapelle, 24 Oct. following. Buried Fauquissart, in an orchard in the Rue de Bacquerot; unm. The Officer commanding his battery wrote: “It is a very great sorrow indeed to us all that we have lost him. Officers and men were devoted to him. He was a gallant little fellow and a first-class officer.” He was mentioned in Sir John (now Lord) French’s Despatch of 14 Jan. 1915, for gallant and distinguished conduct in the field. He was a keen sportsman; rode very well and was very good at all games.

NIXON, WILLIAM, Boy, 1st Class, J. 26752 (Ports.), H.M.S. Hawke; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914.

NOBBS, WILLIAM ROBERT, Seaman, R.N.R., 2282A, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

NOBLE, CHARLES CRAWFORD, Private, No. 6/698, 13th Canterbury and Westland Regt., New Zealand Expeditionary Force, s. of George Noble, of Blue Spur, Hokitika, New Zealand, Gold Miner, by his wife, Jeannie A. S., dau. of Alexander Walker, of Strichen; b. Fraserburgh, 31 Jan. 1887; educ. All Saints’ School, Strichen; went to New Zealand, 7 May, 1906; volunteered and joined the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, after the outbreak of war, 17 Aug. 1914; left for Egypt with the main body in Oct.; took part in the landing at the Dardanelles, 25 April, 1915, and died on board H.M.S. Royal George, 12 May following, of wounds received in action at Cape Helles on the 8th; unm.

NOBLE, CORNELIUS, Private, No. 1856, 5th Battn. Northumberland Fusiliers (T.F.), yst. s. of John Noble, of 310, Church Street, Walker, co. Northumberland, by his wife. Alice; b. Walker, 7 June, 1895; educ. West Walker Council Schools; joined the 5th Northumberland Fusiliers, 1 June, 1913; volunteered for Imperial service, 5 Aug. 1914; went to France, 20 April, 1915, and was killed in action 24 May, 1915, during the Second Battle of Ypres, 24 May, 1915. Buried, Boulogne; unm.

NOBLE, GEORGE, Private, No. 6507, 1st Battn. Royal West Kent Regt., s. of Thomas Noble, of 25, Sigismund Street, Blackwall; served with the Expeditionary Force in France, etc.; died 26 Nov. 1914, of wounds received in action.

NOBLE, GEORGE, Driver, No. 8125, 1st Battn. Royal West Kent Regt.; served with the Expeditionary Force in France; killed in action 28 Oct. 1914; m.

NOBLE, JACK EDWARD, Private, No. 15184, 3rd Battn. Middlesex Regt., s. of George Noble, of High Wycombe, Bucks; served with the Expeditionary Force in France; killed in action, 21 March, 1915.

NOBLE, ROBERT, Stoker, Petty Officer (R.F.R., B. 4521), 171089, H.M.S. Hogue; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

NOBLE, THOMAS, of Aberdeen, lost when the mine-sweeping trawler No. 61 (Crathie, of Aberdeen) was sunk by a mine, Aug. 1914.

NOEL, HERBERT BISHOP, C.E.R.A., 2nd Class (Pensioner), 269614, H.M.S. Hogue; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

NOLAN, MYLES PATRICK, Private, No. 2754, 2nd Battn. 8th Middlesex Regt. (T.F.), 2nd s. of the late William Nolan, of Fulham, by his wife, Catherine, dau. of Michael (and Mary) Murphy, of Dublin; b. Fulham, S.W., 3 June, 1897; educ. Council School there; was an Assistant Engineer, P.O. Telegraph; joined the 10th Middlesex Territorials in June, 1912; volunteered for foreign service, Aug. 1914; was transferred to the 2/8th Middlesex, and was drafted to Gibraltar, Sept. 1914, returning to England, Feb. 1915; went to France, 8 March, 1915, and was killed in action at Rye, France, 21 Oct. 1915, being shot by a sniper; unm. Letters from his officers speak of him as a good soldier and a general favourite.

NOOTT, MERVYN, 2nd Lieut., 1st Battn. The Buffs (East Kent Regt.), yst. s. of William Mathias Noott, M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P., L.S.A., and his wife, Louisa (Upton Lodge, St. Peter’s, Thanet), eldest dau. of the late Sir Alfred Hickman, 1st Bart., M.P.; b. Kensington Park Road, London, 19 May, 1890; educ. Mr. Edminson’s, Tan-y-bryn, Llandudno, and Fauconberg School, Beccles; joined the 3rd (Special Reserve) Battn. The Buffs as 2nd Lieut. 15 March, 1911, and promoted Lieut. 20 Jan. 1913; passed into the Regulars as 2nd Lieut., 1st Buffs, 24 May, 1913; left for France, 16 Sept. 1914; and was killed in action at Radinghem Wood, near Lille, 20 Oct. following; unm. Capt. R. Bright wrote: “Your son was killed in action on the 20th. He was gallantly leading his men under heavy fire, and every one who was near him cannot speak too highly of his conduct. I cannot tell you how sorry I am to lose him, and how I feel for you in your loss. But he died gallantly and knew nothing of being hit, being killed instantaneously. He was a good soldier and thoroughly popular with both officers and men, and we can ill afford to lose him.” Major (Brig.-Gen.) E. H. Finch-Hatton, D.S.O., wrote: “There is one thing that I can bear witness to, and that is a more noble and more chivalrous boy has never fallen on the field of battle. His enthusiasm and his sense of duty and chivalry were quite out of the ordinary. He was more like a knight of old, and it is such as he who have made the glory of the British Army to be what it is to-day—the wonder and the admiration of the world.” And L.-Corpl. Kisby wrote: “The platoon would have followed him anywhere. Yes, every man was devoted to him. He won this by his many acts of kindness and cheerfulness, and, above all, they had a great respect for him as a brave man, for undoubtedly he knew no fear.” He had taken a flying certificate and hoped to join the Royal Flying Corps.

NORLEY, SIDNEY HENRY, Acting Chief Stoker, 195527, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

NORMAN, ALBERT EDMUND, Capt., 3rd (Reserve) Battn. East Surrey Regt., attd. Army Cyclist Corps, yst. s. of the late Henry Alexander Norman, of Croydon, by his wife, Annie, dau. of (—) Roberts; b. Croydon, 7 April, 1875; educ. Whitgift Middle School, Croydon; was in a Bank; received a commission as 2nd Lieut. in 1st Vol. Battn. Royal West Surrey Regt. 7 Jan. 1905; gazetted Lieut., 3rd East Surreys, 11 Sept. 1914; attd. Army Cyclist Corps, 1 Dec. following; promoted Capt. 24 March, 1915, and went to France 27 March, and died in hospital at Merville, 11 May, 1915, of wounds received in the advance against the Aubers Ridge on the 9th. Buried at Merville. The N.C.Os. and men of his company erected a stone to his memory. A comrade wrote: “He very much distinguished himself in offering to take a despatch message under heavy fire. He was successful in getting it through, but was wounded on returning to Headquarters.” He was mentioned in Sir John (now Lord) French’s Despatch of 30 Nov. 1915 [London Gazette, 1 Jan. 1916]. He m. at Croydon, 5 Jan. 1905, Linda Burnell, dau. of the late William Bust Turner, of Croydon, Surrey; s.p.

NORMAN, EDWARD, A.B., 226971, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

NORMAN, ERRINGTON HOUNSOME, A.B. (R.F.R., B. 9676), S.S. 2428, H.M.S. Hogue; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

NORMAN, ROBERT, Private, No. 2200, A Coy., 4th Battn. Suffolk Regt., s. of Robert Norman, Sailor; b. Ipswich, 18 Oct. 1882; educ. St. Clement’s School, Ipswich; was a Labourer at Paul’s Barley Factory, Ipswich; volunteered and enlisted in Sept. 1914; went to France, 6 Nov. 1914, and was killed in action at Neuve Chapelle, 11 March, 1915. Capt. S. L. Brown wrote: “Your husband was a soldier from head to foot, and an Englishman, and the example he set to the younger men was grand—I shall never have a better man to go with me anywhere. It may, perhaps, be a little comfort to you to know that his death was instantaneous: a soldier’s death without pain.” He m. at St. Helen’s Church, Ipswich, 25 Dec. 1906, Alice Maud (50, Rosebery Road, Ipswich), dau. of George (and Ellen) Prebble, of Ipswich, and had three children: Robert William, b. 14 Sept. 1907; Arthur George, b. 31 May, 1913; and Elsie May, b. 6 Nov. 1900.

NORMAN, ROBERT, Leading Seaman (R.F.R., I.C. 35), 186027, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

NORMANLY, MARTIN, Private, No. 9791, 3rd Battn. Coldstream Guards, s. of Thomas Normanly, of Montuaigh, Curry, co. Sligo, Farmer, by his wife, Bridget, dau. of Thomas Gallagher; b. Montuaigh, Curry, afsd. 14 Oct. 1892; educ. National School there; was a Coal Miner; joined the Coldstreams in Oct. 1912; went to France, 12 Aug. 1914, and was killed in action at Mons, on the 25th; unm.

NORRIS, GEORGE CROSSLEY, Deckhand, No. 207 D.A., Trawler Section, R.N.R.; lost when the mine-sweeping trawler No. 61 called “Crathie” (Thomas W. Irvine, of North Shields) was sunk by a mine, Aug. 1914.

NORRIS, OSWALD MARK, Private, No. 61221, 1st Canterbury Infantry, New Zealand Expeditionary Force, 7th s. and yst. child of Thomas C. Norris, of Christchurch, J.P., late Secretary and Treasurer to North Canterbury Hospital Board, by his wife, Mary; b. Christchurch, New Zealand, 15 June, 1892; educ. Christ’s College, Canterbury, New Zealand, after which he took up sheep farming in Hawkes Bay, and while there joined the local Regt. of Mounted Rifles, in which he was a corpl. when war broke out. He volunteered for Imperial service, 12 Oct. 1914; left for Egypt with the main body; took part in the repulse of the Turkish attack on the Suez Canal in Feb. 1915, and was killed in action during the landing at Gebe Tepe, Gallipoli, 25 April, 1915; unm. A comrade wrote: “In our camp life your son’s sterling qualities and high principles made him very popular. The memory of your son Oswald—a brave and true man—will ever remain dear to us”; and another: “He was a favourite among all, and everybody admired his strength of character and his great lovable disposition.”

NORRIS, REGINALD HAYDEN, Corpl., No. 9096, 2nd Battn. The King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regt., s. of William Norris, of 6, Pleasant Place, Chalvey, by his wife, Mary Ann; b. Chalvey, Slough, 8 March, 1889; educ. Board School there; enlisted 22 Oct. 1906; left for France, 20 Sept., and was killed in action at Metrean, 13 Oct. 1914. Buried there. He m. at Scotforth, Lancaster, 25 Dec. 1913, Helena Eleanor (12, Abbey Terrace, Scotforth, Lancaster), dau. of Joseph Kendall, of Scotforth; s.p.

NORRIS, ROBERT, Engine Room Artificer, 2nd Class, No. Ch. 149732, R.N., s. of Robert Norris; b. Chatham, co. Kent, 22 Aug. 1866; educ. St. Paul’s School there; joined the Navy, 23 May, 1889; served in South African War (medal), and on H.M.S. Cressy, and was lost when that ship was sunk in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914; unm. He had the Long Service and Good Conduct medal.

NORRIS, WILLIAM, Private, No. 10734, 1st Battn. Coldstream Guards, yst. s. of Joseph Norris, of 35, Albert Road, Tamworth, Warwick, Carpenter (a native of Lancashire), by his wife, Elizabeth, dau. of David Marney, of Melbourne, Victoria; b. Melbourne, 28 Nov. 1893, came to England with his parents when two years of age, and was educ. at Tamworth Council School; was employed as a Platelayer on the L. &. N.W. Railway; enlisted in May, 1914, and was killed in action at Ypres, 29 Oct. 1914; unm.

NORSWORTHY, EDWARD CUTHBERT, Major, 13th Battn. (Royal Highlanders of Canada), 3rd Brigade, Canadian Expeditionary Force, eldest s. of James Counter Norsworthy, of Ingersoll, P. Ontario, Canada, by his wife, Mary Jane, eldest dau. of Alexander Cuthbert, of Ingersoll, and gdson. of John Norsworthy, of the Parish of Widdicombe, co. Devon, England (who went to Canada in 1852); b. Ingersoll afsd., 29 May, 1879; killed in action in the Battle of Langemarck on 22 May, 1915; educ. Ingersoll and St. Thomas’ Public Schools, from which he passed to the Upper Canada College, and thence matriculated to McGill University, at which time he won the Governor-General’s gold medal for mathematics. He subsequently became registered as a Student of the Institute of Actuaries of Great Britain along with his younger brother Stanley. At the examination held that year, there were thirty-six candidates writing in the Dominion; of this number five were successful, including Major Norsworthy and his brother. In his student days he had been connected with the Cadet Corps at St. Thomas’ Collegiate Institute, and the Upper Canada College Rifle Corps. Deciding to adopt a career in the financial world, he obtained a position with Messrs. G. A. Stimson & Co., of Toronto, and in 1901 he opened an office in Montreal as Manager for the Dominion Securities Corporation. He joined the 5th Royal Highlanders as a subaltern, shortly after his arrival there, and after passing his examination at St. John’s (Quebec) Military School, he became Capt. in 1905, and Adjutant three years later, and Major in 1909. On the outbreak of war, Major Norsworthy volunteered his services, and helped to organise the 13th Battn. for active service, and accompanied it to Europe as Senior Major and Second in Command. While in England, he was offered an appointment with Sir Max Aitken, the Canadian “Eye Witness,” but preferred to remain with his regt.; unm. On 22 April, 1915, the Germans, using virulent and asphyxiating gasses for the first time, were able to overcome a portion of the French troops adjoining our line. In the words of Sir John French’s Despatch of 15 June, 1915: “The left flank of the Canadian Division was thus left dangerously exposed to serious attack in flank, and there appeared to be a prospect of their being overwhelmed, and of a successful attempt by the Germans to cut off the British troops occupying the salient to the east. In spite of the danger to which they were exposed, the Royal Highlanders of Canada held their ground with a magnificent display of tenacity and courage; and it is not too much to say that the bearing and conduct of these splendid troops averted a disaster which might have been attended with the most serious consequences.” The 13th Battn. (5th Royal Highlanders) were the first Canadian troops to meet a charge of the Germans, and notwithstanding they were greatly outnumbered, and were being attacked in flank in their dug-outs, Major Norsworthy skilfully led his men out to the Ypres-Poelcapelle Road, manning the road ditches facing the advancing Germans, and heroically holding their position, and refusing to give one inch of ground, thereby setting the pace for the whole division. Major Norsworthy’s part in the action was thus described by one of the privates present: “After having remained in the dug-outs for about one hour, with our throats parched and our eyes watering, caused by the gas, we could see that the Germans had broken our lines. It was reported to Major Norsworthy, and he gave the order to ‘stand to’ which we were waiting anxiously to do, and he led us out to the Ypres-Poelcapelle Road. It was not long before they began to pick our boys off. Major Norsworthy was hit in the neck by a bullet, but it did not stop him from walking up and down our line, encouraging our men to hold fast. It was not until he received the second bullet that he had to give in and lie down. We bound him up as well as we could, but the second wound was serious, and he died about three-quarters of an hour after.” Another private who was with Major Norsworthy said: “As we advanced out of our dug-outs and trenches—that were being enfiladed—we met a perfect storm of shell and rifle bullets, when some inclinations of hesitancy and flinching were shown. Seeing this, Major Norsworthy sprang to the front and called out, ‘Come on, men, remember that we are Canadians and all the eyes of Canada are upon us.’ His action and words steadied those that were wavering, and we all followed him with a wild cheer, and advanced to the Ypres-Poelcapelle Road ditches—facing the advancing Germans—which gave us some little protection, and we stuck it there to the last man.” The following are extracts spoken to the first Canadian Division after the twelve days and nights of fighting included in the period from 22 of April to the 4th of May, 1915; “I tell you truly that my heart is so full I hardly know how to speak to you. It is full of sorrow for the loss of those comrades of ours who have gone, and pride in what the first Canadian Division has done. I think it is possible that you do not all of you quite realise that if we had retired in the evening of 22 April, when our Allies fell back before the gas and left our left flank quite open, the whole of the 27th and 28th Division would probably have been cut off. This is what our Commander-in-Chief meant when he telegraphed as he did: ‘The Canadians saved the situation.’ My lads, if ever men have had a right to be praised in this work, you have.” Major Norsworthy was mentioned in F.M. Sir John (now Lord) French’s Despatch of 31 May, 1915, for gallant and distinguished service in the field.

NORTH, ARTHUR, Sergt., No. G. 582, 9th (Service) Battn. East Kent Regt.; died in Dover Military Hospital, 4 June, 1915; m.

NORTH, FREDERICK ALBERT, Sergt., No. 8010, 2nd Battn. East Surrey Regt.; served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders; died 3 April, 1915, of wounds received in action; m.

NORTH, CHARLES NAPIER, Major, 5th Field Coy. Royal Engineers, eldest s. of the late Col. Roger North, R.A., by his wife Fanny Ellen (Briarwood, Camberley), dau. of Stephen Beeching, of Tunbridge Wells; b. Bristol, 16 Aug. 1874; educ. Radley College, where he gained the Heathcote Mathematical Scholarship, and the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich; gazetted 2nd Lieut. R.E. 10 Feb. 1893, and promoted Lieut. 10 Feb. 1896, Capt. 1 April, 1904, and Major, 25 July, 1913; served (1) in the South African War, 1899–1902, took part in the operations in the Orange Free State, March to May 1900, in the Transvaal, east of Pretoria, Aug. to Nov. 1900, in the Orange River Colony, May to June 1900, in Cape Colony, south of Orange River, 1899–1900, and in the Transvaal, Orange River Colony and Cape Colony, 1901–2; and was afterwards on the Staff, and from 20 May, 1902 to 7 Aug. 1902, was employed under the Dir. Mil. Intelligence (Queen’s medal with three clasps and the King’s medal with two clasps); and (2) with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders, 15 Aug. to 1 Nov. 1914, on which latter date he was killed in action near Zonnebeke, during the First Battle of Ypres, being shot by a sniper while engaged in inspecting the erection of barbed wire entanglements in an exposed position. Buried in Zonnebeke Wood, N.E. of Ypres. The General Officer Commanding, Royal Engineers, 2nd Division, wrote: “Major North’s death was a severe loss not only to his own company, but to the Royal Engineers and the service generally, as on several occasions his devotion to duty and his excellent work had come under my observation, and I have no doubt his example conduced largely to the fine performance of the 5th Field Coy.” Major North was mentioned in Sir John (now Lord) French’s Despatch of 14 Jan. 1915. He m. at St. Mary Abbott’s Church, Kensington, 18 Dec. 1913, Norah, dau. of the late Col. Gribbon, of Inverness Terrace, W., and had a dau. Elizabeth, b. posthumous, 31 March, 1915.

NORTH, WILLIAM THOMAS, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., B. 2721), 286931, H.M.S. Hogue; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

NORTHCOTT, ALBERT HENRY, Shipwright, No. Chat. 345561, Royal Navy, s. of Lieut. Albert Northcott, R.N., by his wife, Mary Elizabeth Swete (4, Springfield Terrace, Elburton Cross, near Plymouth), dau. of Samuel Tolcher; b. Plymouth, co. Devon, 6 April, 1887; educ. Ryders High School, Stoke Devonport; was for some time a Shipwright Apprentice in Devonport Dockyard; joined the Navy in 1907; served on H.M. ships Cyclops, London, and Cressy; took part in the Battle of Heligoland, and was lost when the Cressy was torpedoed in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914; unm.

NORTHEY, ALFRED, Lieut., 4th, attd. 3rd, Battn. Worcestershire Regt., yr. s. of the late Rev. Alfred Edward Northey, formerly Vicar of Rickmansworth, co. Hertford, by his wife, Alice (Lisworney, Torquay), dau. of Frederick Hatton, and grandson of Lieut.-Col. William Brook Northey, of The Mount, Sevenoaks, Coldstream Guards, J.P., D.L.; b. at The Vicarage, Rickmansworth, 10 Sept. 1886; educ. at Rottingdean, Sherborne School, and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst; gazetted 2nd Lieut. to the 4th Worcesters 3 Feb. 1906, and promoted Lieut. 24 Oct. 1908; joined his battn. at Malta, where he was stationed until Nov. 1908, when it proceeded to Bareilly, India. Returning from India on sick leave in Feb. 1911, he was sent to the Depôt at Worcester, and was there when war broke out. He acted as Machine-Gun Officer at Tregantle, Cornwall, until 30 Aug. 1914, when he left for France in charge of a draft, and, after being stationed for three weeks at St. Nazaire, joined the 3rd Worcesters (7th Brigade, 3rd Division) at the Front. He was killed in action, 12 Oct. following, close to Richebourg St. Vaast, while the battn. was fighting its way through Richebourg to Neuve Chapelle. He was unm. His Commanding Officer wrote: “He was killed whilst leading his men in the attack. He was killed instantly, and did not suffer. He was a splendid officer, and can ill be spared. I hope it may be some little comfort to you, that he died leading his men in the most gallant manner.” He was mentioned in Sir John (now Lord) French’s Despatch of 14 Jan. [London Gazette, 17 Feb., 1915.] Lieut. Northey was an excellent musician, playing both piano and violin; a good all-round sportsman, and very popular with both officers and men.

NORTON, WILLIAM GEORGE, Private, No. 3582, 2nd Battn. (Royal Fusiliers) The London Regt. (T.F.), s. of George Thomas Norton, of 21, Newman Road, Plaistow, Labourer, by his wife, Mary Ann, dau. of William Smith, Master Baker; b. Poplar, 7 Dec. 1898; educ. West Ham; trained in the West Ham Boys’ Naval Brigade for 2½ years under A. E. Cleave, commanding officer; was employed as a Coppersmith at the Plaistow Railway Works; volunteered and joined the 2nd Royal Fusiliers, 13 Feb. 1915; went to France, 17 April, and died at No. 2 Casualty Clearing Station, Bailleul, 6 June, 1915, of a gunshot wound in the head, received in action, 31 May, 1915; unm. Buried in the Civil Cemetery, Bailleul.

NOTTON, HARRY GUY, A.B., J. 2639, H.M.S. Hogue; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

NOURISH, THOMAS ALDERMAN, Private, No. 6118, 3rd Battn. Coldstream Guards, s. of Thomas Nourish, of Highland House, Kilby Road, Fleckney, Leicester, by his wife, Hannah, dau. of Anthony Loomes, of North Kilworth; b. Illston-on-the-Hill, co. Leicester, 8 March, 1881; educ. Fleckney Church of England School; enlisted 23 Feb. 1905; served in Egypt, 29 Sept. 1906 to 29 Jan. 1909; obtained his discharge and joined the Reserve, 23 Feb. 1908; was called up on mobilisation in Aug. 1914; went to France with the Expeditionary Force, 12 Aug., and died in No. 4 General Hospital, Boulogne, 4 Nov. 1914, of wounds received in action at Rentel, 29 Oct.; unm. Buried in Wimereux Churchyard (Grave No. 21).

NOVELL, WILLIAM, A.B. (R.F.R., B. 3819), 189603, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

NUNN, ARTHUR WILLIAM, Stoker, 1st Class, 228989, H.M.S. Hawke; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914.

NUNN, FRANK ALFRED, Acting E.R.A., 4th Class, M. 7311, H.M.S. Pathfinder; lost when that ship was sunk by a mine, about 20 miles off the East Coast, 5 Sept. 1914.

NUNN, FREDERICK WILLIAM, Leading Cook’s Mate, 347626, H.M.S. Arethusa; killed in action in the Heligoland Bight, 28 Aug. 1914.

NUNN, MERVYN HENRY, Lieut.-Col. Commanding 9th (Service) Battn. Worcestershire Regt., s. of William Henry Nunn, of Broadwater Down, Tunbridge Wells, by his wife, Sophie Caroline, dau. of Major Richard Rollo Houghton, late of the Buffs; b. Woolhampton, co. Berks, 17 Nov. 1864; educ. Harrow; was gazetted Lieut. to the Worcestershire Regt. from the Militia, 28 April, 1886, and promoted Capt. July, 1892, Major 13 Nov. 1901, and Lieut.-Col. 8 Jan. 1915; was employed with Egyptian Army, 27 Dec. 1896 to 1 Oct. 1897; served in the Nile Expedition, 1897 (Egyptian medal with clasp, and medal); and in the South African War, 1902; was in command of the Imperial Yeomanry Battn., from 26 Feb. 1902; took part in operations in Natal (Queen’s medal with clasp); retired and joined the Reserve of Officers, 11 April, 1906, but rejoined his old Regt. on the outbreak of war in Aug. 1914; went to the Dardanelles, 24 June, 1915, and was killed in action at Chunik Bair, 10 Aug. following; unm. He was mentioned in Sir Ian Hamilton’s Despatch of 11 Dec. 1915, for gallant and distinguished service in the field. Col. Nunn was a fine sportsman, a good man to hounds and a good polo player.

NUTCHER, MONTAGUE CYRIL, A.B. (R.F.R., B. 3961), S.S. 1224, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

OAKELEY, FRANCIS ECKLEY, Lieut., R.N., 5th s. of the late Rev. James Oakeley, Vicar of Holy Trinity, Hereford, by his wife, Frances E. (Westdale, Chilston, Torquay), dau. of John Eckley, of Credenhill Park, Hereford; b. Hereford, 3 Feb. 1891; educ. Hereford Cathedral School, Eastman’s, and the Osborne and Dartmouth Royal Naval Colleges; was one of the second batch of cadets entered under the “new scheme,” and passed out from Dartmouth, 15 Sept. 1908; became Midshipman, 15 Sept. 1908, Sub-Lieut. 30 Nov. 1911, and Lieut. Nov. 1913; served in H.M. ships London (flagship of Rear-Admiral Startin, Channel Fleet, Sept. 1908); Invincible (Capt. Mark Kerr, 1st Cruiser Squadron, March, 1909); the Téméraire (1st Battle Squadron, Nov. 1909); Warrior (2nd Cruiser Squadron, Jan. 1910); Ure (2nd Destroyer Flotilla, July, 1910); Dreadnought (flagship of Sir William May, Home Fleet, Sept. 1910); Formidable (Atlantic Fleet, April to Sept. 1911); Superb (1st Battle Squadron, Nov. 1911); Dolphin (Portsmouth Submarine Depot for Instruction, Jan. to May, 1913); and from the last was transferred to H.M.S. Forth at Devonport for submarines. In Sept. 1913, he returned to Portsmouth on appointment to the Arrogant for C 7, and after the outbreak of war was appointed to the Maidstone, additional for D 2. He was lost in D 2 during the last week in Nov. 1914; unm. He was widely known for so junior an officer on account of his remarkable merit as a Rugby football player. He was in 1913’s English International Fifteen v. Scotland, and was looked upon as the most promising player of the United Services. He began playing for the Services First Twenty when he was still a Midshipman The following season Oakeley and Davis played magnificently against Ireland at Twickenham, and against Scotland at Inverleith—two matches that England won. Lieut. Oakeley had two caps against Scotland, one each against Ireland and France, and he was always on the winning side. He won the second prize for the cadet competition Sabre v. Sabre at the Royal Naval and Military Tournament, 1906, and the first prize cadet competition, Foil v. Foil, in the following year.

OAKES, ALEXANDER MONTAGUE, Private, No. 11, 19th Battn. 5th Brigade, Australian Expeditionary Force, 3rd s. of the late Alfred Charles Oakes, of Camden House, Sussex Street, Woodstock, Cape Town, South Africa, Cape Civil Service, by his wife, Eliza Jane, dau. of George Robb; b. Cape Town, 26 Dec. 1885; educ. Normal College and St. George’s Grammar School, Cape Town; served for some time in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Own Volunteer Mounted Rifles before going to Australia on 30 Jan. 1913. On the outbreak of war he immediately volunteered and joined the 1st Naval and Military Contingent which left Sydney, N.S.W., early in Aug. 1914, in the steamer Berrima, accompanied by H.M.A. ships Sydney and Australia, for the conquest of German New Guinea. In this expedition he lost, by an accident, the use of three fingers of his right hand and was for some time in Hospital at Sydney, but upon being discharged immediately re-enlisted in the 19th Battn. and left Australia in the Ceramic, 25 June, 1915. He was killed in action in Gallipoli, 29 Sept. 1915; unm. The battn. were on fatigue work with the engineers improving the firing line when it occurred, and Oakes was putting up sand bags, when about 4 a.m. a stray bullet struck him over the heart killing him instantaneously. His Commanding Officer, Lieut.-Col. W. K. S. MacKenzie, wrote: “Your son was on my staff at the Liverpool Camp in Sydney before we left Australia and during our stay in Egypt before we came to the Front. I saw much of him and was attached to him, and I feel his loss deeply, it was a great shock to me. He was a fine soldier, and was liked by everyone in the regt. He died bravely fighting for the Empire.” He was buried the same afternoon at the foot of a gully near the sea, and a cross with his name, etc., was erected by his comrades.

OAKES, ORBELL, Capt., 2nd Battn. Yorkshire Regt., 2nd s. of Lieut.-Col. Orbell Henry Oakes, of Nowton Court, Bury St. Edmunds, late 1st Battn. The Worcestershire Regt., by his wife, Laura Eliza Josephine, dau. of George Clifton, formerly R.N.; b. Mhow, India, 7 Nov. 1880; educ. Wellington College; gazetted 2nd Lieut. Royal Garrison Regt. 28 Jan. 1903, and promoted Lieut. 2nd Yorkshire Regt. 3 Oct. 1906, and Capt. 29 Jan. 1913; served in the South African War, 1901–2; took part in the operations in the Orange River Colony, 1901–2 (Queen’s medal with four clasps); was employed with the West African Frontier Force, 6 April, 1910, to 3 Aug. 1914; went to France with the Expeditionary Force, and was killed in action at Moulin du Pietre, near Neuve Chapelle, 12 March, 1915; unm. Buried there. The late Lieut.-Col. W. L. Alexander wrote: “He died in action on 12 March, gallantly doing his duty in a trench near the Moulin du Pietre. He was hit in the head by a bullet, and death must have been instantaneous. He had been doing splendid work with his company since he rejoined the battn., and his loss will be deeply felt by us, both as an officer and a comrade, for he had endeared himself to us all.”

OAKES, RICHARD, Stoker, 1st Class, S.S. 109616, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

OAKLEY, GEORGE HOWARD, A.B., 222020, H.M.S. Hawke; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914; m.

O’BRIEN, HUGH CONOR HENRY, Capt., 2nd Battn. Royal Munster Fusiliers, eldest s. of Henry Joseph O’Brien, of Whitepoint House, Weston, Queenstown, co. Cork, late Lieut.-Col. R.A.M.C., by his wife, Ethel, dau. of Henry Banister; b. Stoke Damarel, co. Devon, 19 Nov. 1880; educ. Clongowes Wood College; Stonyhurst (1896) and Royal Military College, Sandhurst (1899–1900); gazetted 2nd Lieut. Royal Munster Fusiliers, 11 Aug. 1900, and promoted Lieut. 6 March, 1903, and Capt. 1 April, 1910; served (1) in the South African War, 1899–1902; took part in the operations in the Transvaal, Jan. to July, 1901; operations in the Orange River Colony, Feb. to 31 May, 1902, and in Cape Colony, July, 1901, to 31 May, 1902 (Queen’s medal with clasp); (2) on the North West Frontier, India, 1908, as Brigade Signalling Officer, attd. 3rd Brigade, during operations in the Mohmand country (medal with clasp); and (3) with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders, 1914. On 5 Sept. 1914, he left with the 2nd Battn. for Flanders where, and on the Aisne, he served in the trenches, except for one week’s leave home, until Dec. 1914. On 22 Dec. 1914, after a forced march from Bailleul, the regt. was ordered to retake, at all costs, trenches at Festubert which had been evacuated by Indian troops; advancing over open heavy ground in daylight, Capt. O’Brien, at the head of his company, was first wounded in the left side and fell, but was still able to encourage his men, calling out “Go on Munsters, now is your time to get back your own”; a few minutes later he was killed outright by shrapnel bursting over him; unm. An officer wrote: “He was ever a gallant officer, and died a glorious death after helping a wounded comrade to cover; by his death the regt. lost a most efficient and popular officer whom the men would follow anywhere.” Col. Bent, who was badly wounded, in the same regt., wrote: “I wish to tell you what a splendid officer your son was; you will have this testimony from others, but I must tell you what he was to me, as his commanding officer. He was of the best in every way, and as a company commander was of the greatest use to me—absolutely reliable, he had his company in first-class order. Beloved by all the men and officers, he was such a splendid man and soldier that it seems particularly cruel that he should have been taken so early.” Major Ryan, one of the few surviving officers of that fight, wrote: “From all accounts of everyone nothing could have been more gallant than the way he led his men.” When in India he got a Special Certificate at the School of Signalling, Kasauli. He was a keen sportsman and a good shot with gun and rifle, and on two trips to Cashmere and Baltistan made good bags of big game.