Profile

NICHOLAS, Philip William
(Service number 66683)

Aliases
First Rank Private Last Rank Private

Birth

Date 7 September 1881 Place of Birth Mintaro, Sth Australia

Enlistment Information

Date 14 January 1918 Age 36
Address at Enlistment 232 The Terrace, Wellington
Occupation Butcher
Previous Military Experience
Marital Status Married
Next of Kin Mrs P.W Nicholas (wife), 232 The Terrace, Wellington
Religion Methodist
Medical Information 5ft 9in, 132lbs, sallow complexion, grey eyes, dark brown hair

Military Service

Served with New Zealand Armed Forces Served in Army
Military District

Embarkation Information

Body on Embarkation New Zealand Expeditionary Force
Unit, Squadron, or Ship Home Service section, NZ Military Forces
Date
Transport
Embarked From Destination
Other Units Served With
Last Unit Served With Home Service Section

Military Awards

Campaigns
Service Medals
Military Awards

Award Circumstances and Date

No information

Prisoner of War Information

Date of Capture
Where Captured and by Whom
Actions Prior to Capture
PoW Serial Number
PoW Camps
Days Interned
Liberation Date

Discharge

Date Reason

Hospitals, Wounds, Diseases and Illnesses

Post-war Occupations

Death

Date 15 November 1918 Age 37
Place of Death Featherston
Cause Died of influenza
Notices Timaru Herald 20 Nov 1918
Memorial or Cemetery Featherston Cemetery, Western Lake Rd, Featherston, Wairarapa
Memorial Reference Grave 655B
New Zealand Memorials On Memorial wall, Timaru

Biographical Notes

Philip William Nicholas was born at Mintaro, South Australia on 4 December 1920 to Faith Angelina and Abraham George Nicholas. Philip married in 1908 to Timaru girl Mabel Evelyn Ennis and the Timaru electoral roll of 1911 lists the couple: Philip Nicholas, Archer St, butcher; and Mabel Evelyn Nicholas, Archer St, married.

However, the couple appear to have moved as the Reserve Rolls of 1916-1917 have Philip William Nicholas listed as a butcher of 92 Boulcott St, Wellington. He enlisted for service in January 1918, being described as 5ft 9in, 132lbs, of sallow complexion, with grey eyes, and dark brown hair. His home address was given as 232 The Terrace, Wellington. He entered the Home Service section at Featherston Military Training Camp but died of influenza on 15 November 1918. At that time his parents Frank and Elizabeth Ann (Williams) Nicholas lived at 159 Kinane St, Brighton Beach, Victoria, Australia. The 'Creswick Advertiser' of 10 December 1918 reported his death, noting: "Private Philip William, the dearly beloved eldest son of Mr and Mrs Frank Nicholas, and brother of Bessie, Mrs S Merriman, Mrs Clark (NZ), Mrs Barnett (Richmond) and J Nicholas (Garden Vale); aged 37 years ... Deep regret was expressed when it became known that Mr and Mrs Frank Nicholas, of Creswick, had received information to the effect that their son, Private Philip William Nicholas, had died in the Featherston Military Camp, NZ, on 15 November. The late Private Nicholas, who was 37 years of age, contracted influenza, which caused his death . Much sympathy is felt for the bereaved parents and relatives in their loss."

The 'Timaru Herald' of 20 November 1918 also reported his death: "NICHOLAS On the 15th NOvember at Featherson Camp Philip William Nicholas (late of Timaru), dearly beloved husband of Mabel Nicholas and son-in-law of G Ennis, Hassall St, Timaru. So loved, so mourned. Sadly the Timaru Herald also records NICHOLAS - On December 4th at Masterton Hospital, Mabel Evelyn, dearly beloved wife of the late Philip William Nicholas and beloved daughter of F.A and A.G Ennis, Hassall St, Timaru, aged 29 years. So loved so mourned."

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph [June 2021]; NZ Defence Force Personnel Records [June 2021]

External Links

Related Documents

No documents available. 

Researched and Written by

Maree Bowen, SC branch NZSG; Carol Bell, SC branch NZSG

Currently Assigned to

Not assigned.

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