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Old 18-08-14, 07:32
Jill Jill is online now
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Default (20) George Arthur Nicholas Private TF/2101 4th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment

20th of the Old Boys of St Wilfrid's School, Haywards Heath to die in WW1.

Son of James and Ruth Nicholas, George was born on 31 May 1895 at Wivelsfield in Sussex where his father was a coachman. His brother James was born in Haywards Heath three years later. Their father was 22 years older than their mother.

In 1901 the family lived at 29 Mill Green Road where their father was a coal delivery man but by 1911 they lived at Holly House, Paddockhall Road, where their father was a domestic coachman and George had started work as a butcher’s assistant.

George was killed in action at Suvla Bay, Gallipoli aged 20 on 11 Sep 1915; and is buried at Amzak Cemetery, exact location unknown but he appears on Special Memorial 18.

Here is his obituary from the paper:

MID SUSSEX TIMES 5 Oct 1915
PRIVATE G S NICHOLAS HAYWARDS HEATH

Last week the sad news was received by Mr and Mrs J Nicholas, of Limehurst Lodge, Paddockhall Road Haywards Heath , that their elder son, Private George Arthur Nicholas, No 2101, of the 1/4th Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment , was killed in action at the Dardanelles on September 11th. He was in his 20th year.

Born at Wivelsfield, he was and Old Boy of St Wilfrid’s School, Haywards Heath. For three years he was employed on a paper round in connection with The Mid Sussex Times on publishing days. When school days were over he became a butcher’s assistant, and in this capacity he successfully served Mr S Peirce at Haywards Heath (for four years), Mr White at Cuckfield and Mr Farncombe at Lindfield. He was with the last named the twelve months prior to his enlistment on August 31st, 1914.

He served with the Territorials at Newhaven and Bedford before they went out to Gallipoli, where he shared in the trying experience of battle. One of his last letters – it was dated August 30th – contained a significant paragraph. It was this: “We had a bad time yesterday in the trenches. We were shelled all day. It makes you think more of religion. We had a short service in the trench last night.”

This, we feel sure, is typical of the grand spirit of our soldier lads, not only there but wherever they are doing their duty for the Empire.


His brother James died of wounds in Belgium in 1917, their mother died in 1920, aged only 47, and their father in 1921 aged 70.

His mother was sent his effects of £2 5s 10d on 4th December 1915 and a War Gratuity of £3 10s on 19 August 1919, six months before her early death.

Last edited by Jill; 19-01-15 at 18:01. Reason: effects/gratuity
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