1889 - 1915

1.  Early Days
2.  West Yorkshire Regiment
3.  Lancers of the Line
4.  British Expeditionary Forces
5.  1914-1915 Home and Abroad
6.  Missing Presumed Dead
7.  In Memorial

1914-1915 Home and Abroad

In August 1914, just prior to Mobilization, the Officers of the 9th Queen's Royal Lancers sat for a photograph.
Two officers of particular interest are sitting next to each other in the centre of the photograph. Major D.J.E. Beale-Browne and Lieut-Colonel D.G.M. Campbell figured prominently in Edward's military life. Beale-Browne signed all the notations in Edward's 1909-1911 Soldier's Small Book, and Campbell was with Edward in France.

While Edward was in France with the 9th Lancers, those back home in England also had a war to contend with. In early 1915, Edward's Aunt Bella sent a postcard to Edward's sister Rose in Canada, mentioning Edward, and giving an intimate view on the average Englishwoman's perspective on the war. The picture on the front of the postcard shows the results of a German naval bombardment on Scarborough.

Dear Rose
I hope by now baby is better, but keep him warm whatever you do for you know it is just the time of year for people to take cold & I hope the rest of you keep well. You will be having your father to see you soon now. I wish you lived a bit nearer then I could come & stay a bit which I am sure would do me a lot of good. Tell Sam I say that if he wants a change we should be pleased to see you, it would do sore eyes good to see you. Do you know this P.C. You ask will the Germans get here well I think not & another thing we are not down hearted, we are hoping to come out with flying colours. I thought Edward looked well although he was very thin. What do you say if we show the colours. Aunt Bella

(note: colours refers to the flag of the Regiment .. showing the colours etc)

The message on the above postcard reads, exactly as written ..

26/3/15

Dear Dad
    Just a PC hoping it finds you in the best of health & had a good voyage across the herring pond. How is thing looking there now I expect the busy time is on again every thing is going as well as can be expected out here but won't be sorry when it is all over hope Rose Sam & family is in the best of health tell Charlie I will see him some fine day & remember me to the Eks.
From your Effectionate (sic) Son Edward.

Although the photograph on the postcard is attributed to E. Payne, Chelmsford, Essex, I believe that the shot was actually taken in France. The style of the house and furniture looks more 'continental' than English, and  the men are drinking wine. I can't imagine 3 self-respecting working class soldiers in England drinking wine, when a pint of best bitter is available.

I'm of the opinion that at this time, Edward was not actually on the front line, but rather, he was attached to the 6th Cavalry Brigade at field headquarters. Later correspondence and reports show that he was orderly to Brigadier-General D.G.M. Campbell and as such would have likely been 'behind the lines'.

The above photograph, if taken in France, certainly would appear to be away from any active battlefield. As will be shown, Edward was called back to the front just prior to his death.

To reinforce the theory of Edward being attached to headquarters, two letters sent to him in April of 1915 would seem to confirm this. 

The first letter is from a young lady named Hilda, who seems to have been Edward's lady friend, and was a waitress at Standing's Cafe in Harrogate. Unfortunately, she didn't give her surname, so we have no further details on her. At the time she wrote the letter though, it would appear that her and Edward were close. They obviously knew each other's families, and their relationship was strong enough to prompt jealousy from Edward when he thought Hilda may be seeing another man.  

This letter is postmarked Harrogate , 8?pm 20 Apr 15  

Addressee:
1844 Pte E. Nicholson
Headquarters Staff
6th Cavalry Brigade
British Expeditionary Forces  

The back of the envelope is printed with “Standings’ Café Harrogate” The notepaper is printed with “Standing’s Café, Harrogate Telegrams: “Edward Standing, Harrogate .” Telephone: No. 68  

The message reads as written:

April 20th 1914 (sic)

(Mother & Father send their love. Mother is feeling much better. Fondest love write soon again to me) This was written under the date before the main letter.  

My Own Dearest Eddie

I was so pleased to get your letter & glad to hear you are quite well my cold is not so bad this morning but it does make me feel rotton and I have to keep smiling. I am pleased to hear you are still in billet. I do know you are safer than if you were in the trenches. I expect you must get tired of hearing the guns it must be a dreadful noise all the time.

Well dearest I do wish you had given me a good calling as I feel as if I have been such a pig to you. I was so sorry I even told you, as I never thought of him as a boy only a friend. I have no desire to make a change as I have always been happy with you. But now dear it is over and if you are true to me I shall be to you and will wait for you until you finish your time if you wish it as I am not wanting to be married just for the sake of saying I am married. So sweetheart I wish to God to bring you safe back. I feel so much happier since I got your letter but I could not keep anything from you I shall tell you all.

I am writing this at the café in my dinner hour I do not go home as it is a wee bit too far and I am glad of a rest. What do you think dear a chap in here asked me this morning when I was serving him if I was included in the list. You should have heard me tell him off (I am for you and you only) what do you say dear.

So now sweetheart I think this is all now as I am due on again. I wrote to you yesterday so you will get 2 close together. I should love one every day from you so buck up dear and come back soon I am going to see your Ma on Sunday. Au reviour for now dear. Ever your true and loving Hilda x x x x

I believe the date of 1914 on the letter is incorrect, and should read 1915. The references to guns and shelling do not apply to 1914, and although the letter is dated 20th April 1914 the postmark shows 1915. 

Two points brought out in this letter tie in with Edward's position away from the trenches. Firstly, the address on the envelope. There is no reference to Edward being with the 9th Lancers, rather, the letter is sent direct to "Headquarters Staff" of the 6th Cavalry Brigade. Hilda also makes reference to the fact that Edward was billetted and "I do know you are safer than if you were in the trenches."

According to Major E.W. Sheppard's history of the 9th Lancers, around November 1914, Lieut-Colonel Campbell was sent to the 6th Cavaly Brigade ..

"During this period the regiment underwent a change of command. Lieutenant-Colonel Campbell was summoned at short notice to take over the 6th Cavalry Brigade of the 3rd Cavalry Division, then up at Ypres, and was succeeded once more by Major Beale-Browne. This time the change was a permanent one. Colonel Campbell's official connection with the Ninth was henceforward broken off until, in 1930, on the death of General Bushman, he was appointed to the vacant colonelcy."

As we know, Edward was Campbell's orderly, and so it would appear that Edward would also be seconded to the 6th, although maintaining his 'official' posting to the 9th., as he would only be at the 6th due to Campbell's placement and could be called back to his unit at any time.

A second letter was sent to Edward in April of 1915, this one posted 2 days later from Edward's mother Elizabeth, replying to a letter she had received on Tuesday 20th.

Elizabeth's letter to Edward

The front and back of Elizabeth's envelope

This letter is postmarked New Park Harrogate, 23 Apr 15  

Addressee:
1844 Pte E. Nicholson
Headquarters Staff
6th Cavalry Brigade
British E. Forces

The message reads, as written:

8 Archie St .
New Park

April 22nd /4/15  

My dear Edward

In answer to your most kind and welcome letter of Tuesday I was pleased to here you still keep A(1) as I am at present thank you I am also pleased to here that you are having nice weather hoping it will keep improving now for the time is coming for summer which will be looked for for those poor chaps that have had such a hard times in the trenches.

I hear that C Fairburn is in Manchester hospital I here it is his hand but Mrs Jackson his Aunt told me that he had not said what was the matter with it unless she has heard since Tuesday afternoon, I had a birthday present from Charlie & Calvan on Tuesday it was an Indian paper rack & photo frame but no letter from Dad I think he must have forgotten he left me here but anyhow he will get one from me some thing for him to remember.

Have you had a letter from Canterbury for I got one addressed to the old house in North Lodge Ave and it will soon be 3 years since I left it but I think you & me must be like the Bellman well known I answered whether it was right or wrong. There are some more New Park boys come out to France a week ago I have been to a place today the Mrs had a letter from her son first one since he went out & he said he was only ten miles of the firing line. I dare say you will have heard about Harrogate been put into darkness it was bad to last week no lamps shops windows in darkness it is miserable at any time but it was awfull on Saturday night & the police was kept busy in looking round for big lights you see they were very busy a week ago last night Wednesday only 80 miles from Harrogate of course all sorts of rumours but all the same you must not believe all you here for every thing is about bad as it can be you will see all in the paper. Did I tell you that Frank Mervies? that was at Rose as come to Shorncliff I wrote a letter to him for Tom as so he answered it he said when he came away Tom was allowed up an hour a day but he said I would not know him he as gone through such a lot of pain he said all Tom wanted was to get better & go back to Sam.

Well Aunt Ed is quiet better again and gone back to school & Aunt Annie I have not seen for a fortnight but I will tell her when I see her I will conclude with love & best wishes

I remain your loving Mother

Once again, we have a letter for Edward addressed to "Headquarters Staff", and again, the content of the letter would seem to indicate that Edward was not at the front. Elizabeth writes " I am also pleased to here (sic) that you are having nice weather hoping it will keep improving now for the time is coming for summer which will be looked for for those poor chaps that have had such a hard times in the trenches."

I am sure that if Edward was one of those poor chaps in the trenches, the wording of his mother's letter would have been completely different.

With regards to the people mentioned in Elizabeth's letter, no details were found of C Fairburn or Frank Mervies. The Tom who is mentioned could well be Tom Nicholson.

In the 1901 census were the following entries

Thomas Nicholson      22        Boroughbridge          Sheffield           Brightside Bierlow       Labourer
George Nicholson       21        Kirby Hill                  Sheffield           Brightside Bierlow       Labourer  

Kirby Hill is only 1 mile from Boroughbridge, which is where Joseph Nicholson and his family were from. It looks as though Thomas and George were brothers, and George was the one who bought Edward out of the army in 1908. He gave his address as 24 Park Row, the same address as Joseph and Elizabeth.

Aunt Ed remains a mystery.

On the back of the envelope, Edward has made himself a list of supplies .. namely

Riding pants
Writing pad
Tobacco
Cleaning kit

Finally, there is a letter from Edward to his mother Elizabeth, dated 11th May 1915.

The letter reads, as written ..

Headquarters Staff
6th Cavalry Brigade
B.E.F.
11/5/15

My Dear Mother

Just a few lines in answer to your most welcome letter which I was pleased to receive I also received the parcel quiet safe & the contents goes down fine. Pleased to hear you keep good health also Father Sam Rose and family keep good health. We was back in our billet again last Friday night but had to turn out again Sunday morning they took us up to the firing line in the motor buses. We are having some very nice weather & it is nice sleeping in the open air again we have lost a lot of men around this part of the line & I expect there will be lots more before it is finished for there as been nothing else but bombarding this last 3 weeks & they are using a lot of this poison gases you can see men dying on the road side as they leave the trench I don’t know what our people is thinking about I would like to know why we don’t use them it’s alright the big knobs sitting in there arm chairs at home and saying we don’t want to use it they want to come out here & have a rub at it. Well I think that is all this time so will close with love from your Effectionate Son Edward.

This last letter from Edward is full of emotion. Trying to keep his feelings in check to save his mother from worrying, he cannot control his grief and fear and anger.

In the letter, Edward relates that "We was back in our billet again last Friday night but had to turn out again Sunday morning they took us up to the firing line in the motor buses." which would suggest that he wasn't permanently in the trenches.

He tries to brighten things by telling his Mother that the weather is good and he takes pleasure in sleeping outdoors, but immediately opens up and tells her about the casualties he's seen and the horrendous way that his comrades are dying as they crawl from the trenches, poisoned by mustard gas. He sees the battles from a simple soldier's point of view, wondering why his commanders don't use the same weapons as the enemy, and lambastes them for sitting in their arm chairs at home. He thinks they should stand in his shoes, and know the war from his perspective.

This really is a strong letter. The First World War was a time of patriotism and loyalty, marching into hell's mouth without question, for King and Country. It speaks a lot for Edward's character that he overcame all his doubts and fears and still served his officers faithfully.

Two days later, on Thursday 13th May 1915, 1844 Private Edward Nicholson was killed in action, aged 26.

In the next section of Edward's story, "In Memorial" there is a letter from a Cpl G. Gurney, giving his account of Edward's death. In it, he notes that Edward "was orderly to General Campbell at that we were being heavily bombarded in the trenches & lost nearly all our men that was in the 2nd Battle for Ypres & the situation was rather bad as far as I know the General came up & a big shell wounded the General & those with him & I was told, his orderly was killed."

From the details in these letters, the addresses and comments, I am convinced that Edward was actually based away from the front, at the 6th Cavalry Brigade Headquarters as orderly to Brigadier-General Campbell.
It would appear that the men at the front were under heavy bombardment, and had been for a while. It looks as though Campbell decided to go to the front to perhaps 'rally' his men, let them see that the officers were with them and provide incentive and encouragement.

As Edward was part of Campbell's staff, he would have accompanied him. Edward had been on the front lines for two days when he wrote to his mother on 11th May 1915.

This map shows the position of the 9th Lancers on 13th May 1915

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