A Collection of Medals formed by the Reverend Canon Nigel Nicholson, OStJ, DL

Pair: Private J. Nicholson, Northumberland Fusiliers, who was killed in action on the First Day of the Battle of the Somme, 1 July 1916, when the Battalion was virtually wiped out

British War and Victory Medals (20-1106 Pte. J. Nicholson. North’d Fus.) good very fine (2) £140-£180

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals formed by the Reverend Canon Nigel Nicholson, OStJ, DL.

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Joseph Nicholson was born in Broomhill, Northumberland, and attested for the Northumberland Fusiliers at South Shields. He served with the 20th (1st Tyneside Scottish) Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front, and was killed in action on the first day of the Battle of the Somme, 1 July 1916. The Battalion advanced together with the 21st, 22nd, and 23rd (2nd, 3rd, and 4th Tyneside Scottish) Battalions up Mash Valley north of La Boisselle, across the widest part of No Man’s Land, and were almost completely destroyed within minutes of leaving their start positions. Of the 80 officers that went into action from the four battalions only 10 returned, and of the men some 80% became casualties. There were 940 all ranks killed and some 1,500 wounded, with the 20th Battalion losing every Officer and Sergeant.

Nicholson has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France. His brother, 20-1107 Private Christopher Nicholson, Northumberland Fusiliers, who enlisted at the same time and served in the same battalion, was also killed in action on the same day.