Nicholls, Joshua (1894-1916)

Joshua Nicholls was born in Strood in 1894. His father was also called Joshua Nicholls and Mother was Eliza Nicholls.

In both the 1901 and 1911 Censuses, Joshua was registered as living at 50 Station Road, Strood with his father, a magazine labourer (for the military), mother and younger brother, Redvers William Nichols. In the 1911 Census however, it was discovered that his parents had had another son called Sidney Nicholls and they had a 73 year old widowed lodger boarding, by the name of Eliza Raynor. 16 year old Joshua was also registered as working as a baker’s assistant at this time.

Joshua signed up for a short service attestation in March 1915, whilst registered as living at 16 Cliffe Road, Kent. He was assigned as a private for the North Staffordshire Prince of Wales regiment. His Regiment number was 40568. 

Sadly a year later Joshua died shortly after the Battle of the Ancre, one of the last major British attack during the Battle of the Somme, on 19 November, 1916. He is registered on the British War medal index.

Joshua’s grave is situated at the Thiepval Memorial, France.  His page on Every Man Remembered can be found here.