| Surname: | Nicholls |
| Initials: | J |
| Rank: | Sergeant |
| Army Number: | -479 |
| Notes: | MMP. Awarded the 1914 Star, Victory and War Medals. First served abroad (1) France, 1/10/1914. He has the same No. as Pte. W Kennedy Royal Sussex ( No. is a R Sussex No.) attached to MMP. He is shown on medal card as SWB List MGC/73. He enlisted at Keighley, Yorkshire 3/10/1895 in the 8 Hussars, No.3798, 3/10/1895, age 18 years, occupation Labourer. Served Home 3/10/1895 to 18/2/1900, South Africa 19/2/1900 to 19/11/1900, Home 20/11/1900 to 16/2/1905, Egypt 17/2/1905 to 13/3/1906, Home 14/3/1906 to 13/5/1908 to discharge. Re enlisted 9/9/1914 served Home 9/9/1914 to 29/9/1914, BEF 30/9/1914 to 8/4/1918, Home 9/4/1918 to 13/7/1918 to discharge. Transferred to MMP 15/6/1901. Served a short term in prison with a L/Cpl MMP. (Howells No. 644) but retained in service 21/6/1906. Drunk on duty Punchestown Races, Curragh, 28/4/1908, severe reprimand. He was born in St Johns, Wakefield. Re enlisted 9/9/1914, occupation Railway Policeman, Midland Railway. Home address 38 Quarry Road, Keighley, Yorkshire. Served Home 9/9/1914 to 29/9/1914, BEF France 30/9/1914 to 8/4/1918, Home 9/4/1918 to 13/7/1918 to discharge. Home address in 1918 20 Nightingale Street, Keighley. List No. 15583. List of sick and wounded NCO's and men of the Expeditionary Force admitted to 16 General Hospital, Le Treport, 15 March 1915:- 479 Cpl. Nicholls, J, MMP, GSW to right thigh. 1/11/1906 he was summoned by Civil Power (Farnham, Surrey) and convicted of feloniously stealing a quantity of potatoes and two sacks, value 5/- on 1/11/1906. Undergoing sentence of imprisonment with Hard Labour from 1/11/1906, sentence expires 31/12/1906. 1/1/1907 to duty. A statement found in his Army Record for a Court of Enquiry into an injury to his knees: 1st Evidence. No. 4603 L/Cpl I J Howells, 17th Lancers, Huts at Middleburg on 26th December, 1903 at about 8.30pm I was leaving the Corporals Mess and owing to the floor being out of repair, my right foot caught in a hole throwing me to the ground and spraining both knees. The hole was caused by a broken board in the flooring. the end of the room where the hole was, was very badly lighted. A further letter in his army record from the DAAG, Aldershot Army Coy to the Provost Marshal, HQ Aldershot, dated 21/11/1908 reads: Your action in allowing the retention in the service and of permanent rank of Corporal Nicholls and Lance Corporal Howells, Military Mounted Police is approved as a special case on the following grounds. 1. The sentence awarded these men being unduly severe for first offenders. 2. The previous exemplary character of them. 3. The imprisonment undergone by these men will have the effect of being a lesson to them for life. 4. Had the men been convicted by Court Marshal under the Army Act it would not have been necessary to discharge them. Army Oder 266 of 1906. A Copy of this correspondence to be attached to the documents of each man. Address in 21/8/1918:- 20 Nightingale Street, Keighley, Yorkshire, formerly 38 Quarry Street, Keighley. Info from Pension Index Cards:- Nicholls, James, MMP, A/Sgt, 479, 13/7/28 to discharge, DEAD 30/3/39, 4/MN/1689, 39 Huarry Street, Keighley, Yorks. Stamp: Ad 3/7/18 at 30/5 from 14/8/18 to 11/2/19, Chelsea No. VV50.1438, received 6/7/18. Also:- MINISTRY OF PENSIONS. PF23M. Nicholls, James, 479, MMP, Widow, Mrs Nicholls, 9 Glenholme Road, Whatley Lane, Bradford. 4/MN/1789, 18/1/32, 11/W/54632, 20/1/32. Also:- CLAIMANT. MPW5. 11/W/54632, Nicholl? (Mrs), man's name Nicholls? James, 479, MMP, relationship to man Widow, 4/MN/1689. James Nicholls. He has the same No. as Pte. W Kennedy, MFP. Extract from the Warminster & Westbury Journal and Wilts County Advertiser 10 November 1906. MILITARY THIEVES IN UNIFORM. Corporals Nicholls and Howells, of the Military Mounted Police, were sentenced to two months' imprisonment with hard labour at Camberley for stealing five shillings worth of potatoes from the Manor House estate, Frimley. The men committed the theft while on duty in their Military Police uniform and their horses were used for the removal of the potatoes. Before the case was heard Major Wood, Provost Marshall of the Military Police, asked the magistrates to hand the prisoners over to be dealt with by the military authorities, "for the sake and credit of the Corps." |
Decoration Record: | |
| Decoration: | Silver War Badge (London Gazette: WO 329/3243 Page: List MPC/73 July 8, 1918) |
| Citation: | Badge No. 427633. Enlisted 9/9/1914, discharged 13/7/1918. KR 392 (xvi), Army Order 265 sec B. Age 39years 7months. Served abroad. |
| Decoration: | Queen's South Africa Medal (London Gazette: WO 100/115 Page: 309 May 31, 1902) |
| Citation: | Clasps: Johannesburgh, Cape Colony, Orange Free State. Awarded serving with the 8 Hussars. No. 3798, invalided home. |