Lives of the First World War

Alselan Buchanan Nichols was born at 15 Courtfield Road, Brompton in London on the 14th of May 1894 the son of Walter Buchanan Nichols JP, a gentleman, and Helen Emily (nee Norman) Nichols of Stour Lodge, Bradfield, Manningtree in Essex. He was educated at Mowden School in Hove and at Lancing College where he was in Heads House from September 1908 to July 1912. He served as a Lance Corporal in the Officer Training Corps until leaving school and was appointed as a House Captain on 1912. On leaving school he became an art student. Following the outbreak of war he applied for a commission in the 3rd Battalion Essex Regiment (Special Reserve of Officers) in an application which was supported by the Reverend Bowlby, Headmaster of Lancing College. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 2/5th Battalion Essex Regiment on the 15th of October 1914. He transferred to the 3rd Battalion on 6th of February 1915 and was attached to the 1st Battalion when he arrived at Suvla Bay in Gallipoli on the 14th of August 1915. He was evacuated to Egypt from the peninsular with enteric fever and trench foot in October 1915. His father received the following telegram dated the 30th of October 1915 : - "2/Lt A.B. Nichols Essex Regiment was reported admitted 11 General Hospital Alexandria Oct 21st suffering from septic soles feet and enteritis. Condition satisfactory. Will send any further reports." he received a further telegram dated the 20th of November 1915: - "2Lt A.B. Nichols Essex Regiment was transferred to 1 Convalescence Home Alexandria Nov 6th." On his recovery he rejoined the battalion in Egypt where they had been sent following the evacuation of Gallipoli. In March 1916 he went to France and he was promoted to Lieutenant on the 4th of September 1916. He was killed at Monchy. His father received the following telegram dated the 27th of April 1917: - "Deeply regret to inform you Lieut. A.B. Nichols Essex Regiment was killed in action April twenty third. The Army Council express their sympathy." His Colonel wrote:- “A good soldier and very popular in the ranks. “ Another officer wrote:- “Making a fine soldier and doesn’t know what fear is.” One of his men wrote:- “Mr Nichols is the finest gentleman God ever made. I would go through a thousand hells for him” And another wrote:- “Mr Nichols is a nice gentleman, always looked after the men, and was so kind and helped them in every possible way.”

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