Oscar Alva NICHOLLS

Regimental number23084
Date of birth31 May 1893
Place of birthTasmania, Australia
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationLabourer
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation22.8
Height5' 7"
Weight140 lbs
Next of kinFriend, C S Ireland, Glencoe House, Masterton
Previous military serviceServed in the Citizen Military Forces, Tasmania; resigned on leaving the country.
Enlistment date11 January 1916
Place of enlistmentTrentham
Rank on embarkationLance Corporal
Enlistment statusVolunteer
Unit nameNew Zealand Rifle Brigade, 4th Reinforcements to 3rd Battalion, G Company
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Wellington on 27 May 1916
Final rankPrivate
Final unit2nd Battalion, Canterbury Infantry Regiment
FateKilled in Action 12 October 1917
Place of burialNo known grave
Commemoration detailsTyne Cot Memorial (New Zealand Apse, Panel No 2), nr Ieper, Belgium,
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records		Mother: Mrs Agnes Nicholls, Longford, Tasmania, Australia
Other details

War service: Western Front

Embarked Wellington, 31 May 1916; disembarked Devonport, England, 26 July 1916; marched into Sling Camp, 27 July 1916.

Proceeded overseas to France, 28 August 1916; joined 2nd Bn, Canterbury Infantry Regiment, in the field, 14 September 1916.

Found guilty, 5 December 1916, of destroying 2 head of poultry, property of a French civilian: forfeited 28 days' pay.

Ordered to pay cost of one MT cover: 5/4d.

Admitted to No 3 NZ Field Ambulance, 12 April 1917 (diarrhoea); discharged to Reinforcements Camp, 21 April 1917; rejoined unit, 23 April 1917.

Wounded in action, 7 June 1917 (gun shot wound, hip), and admitted to 77th Field Ambulance; rejoined unit, 23 June 1917.

Admitted to No 2 NZ Field Ambulance, 28 August 1917 (pyrexia, unknown origin), and transferred to No 2 Australian Casualty Clearing Station; to No 3 General Hospital, Le Treport, 30 August 1917; to No 3 Convalescent Depot, Le Treport, 9 September 1917; to Base Depot, Etaples, 20 September 1917; rejoined unit, in the field, 8 October 1917.

Reported missing, 12 October 1917.

Court of Enquiry, 15 April 1918, concluded: 'Killed in action, 12 October 1917.'

Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNominal Roll Vol. 2: Roll 33, p. 32
Archives New Zealand (Wellington), Agency AABK, Series 18805, File 21380422