Air Mechanic 2nd Class William NJ Nichols
 

I was unable to partake of any Remembrance services on Sunday (in transit), so this morning I drove an hour south from my Frankfurt home to the city of Worms (say Verms....). My destination was the British military graves from WW1, which are in the main cemetery of the city. Taking full advantage of unrestricted autobahn stretches, I managed to be there just before 1100, on this 11 Nov.

The British grave plot holds 112 soldiers of various regiments, plus a solitary airman - Air Mechanic 2nd Class William Norman John Nichols, RAF (Service # 93455). He died age 19yrs on 2 Oct 1918. He formerly served in 251st Brigade, Royal Field Artillery. Born in Dalwood, Devon, he was the son of William & Emma Nichols of 19 Hillersdon Ave, Barnes, London.

The CWGC website suggests that these men were PoW. They all seem to have died during the same period in time - was the great 'flu pandemic responsible?

Leaving them my poppy and a sharp salute, I made my way out of this large and well-kept civilian cemetery, pondering the short life & fate of young William, a founder member of the RAF. Was he perhaps an Air Gunner, shot down & captured? Are there surviving relatives?

Is there a PPruNe sleuth out there, with more time/brains/ability than I? This youngster should not be forgotten..........

HB

Not much help, but Airmen Died in the Great War 1914-1918 says

As there is no cause of death recorded in his entry, it is likely he died of illness.

Odd thing I found was he was actually born in Germany

http://www.ancientfaces.com/person/w...hols/164633395

Might be worth trying on the RAF Commands forum - they specialise in info on service personnel.

or try the 1914 - 1918 forum (War in the Air sub forum as they are specific to the period

That's interesting Nutty. The CWGC website shows him as being born in Dalwood, Devon?


A well-read WW1-savvy pal of mine suggests that, given his Artillery background, William may have been an Artillery 'spotter' (age 19yrs?).


HB