Charles Henry's Story.
Charles was born in 1897 to Charle Henry Nickson, a bricklayer, and Harriet Elizabeth Nickson.In the 1911 census the family are living at 1 Fisher Street, Runcorn and Charles is listed as being at school, in 1911 he is listed as being 14 years of age.
He was one of 7 children, having two sister and four brothers.
Margaret was the oldest, 20, then Robert, 19, Ernest, 17, Jessie, 15, Joseph, 12, and Arthur who was 11.
The service records of Charles are available, and he did indeed join up in 1914 as the newspaper article below states at the age of 17 however he told the recruiting officier he was 19. He joined up on the 9th November 1914 and joined the 20th Battalion of the LIverpool Regiment.
He was 5ft 6.5 inches tall, a fresh complextion with brown eyes and hair.
There are no other details on his service records.
On the date of his death, the 20th were relieving the 19th in the trenches on the Somme, and during this operation a number of soliders were killed, records from CWGC indicate 7 from the 20th, and 2 from the 19th. During this swapping of the battalions, the trenches would have been under constant shelling, and it does state that Charles was killed by shrapnel.
At the time of his death the battalion were at Le Transloy, Somme.
The following article was from the Runcorn Guardian and was also in the Runcorn Weekly News.
"Will you try to remember that your son died the finest death a man can die, fighting for his country and the right," was the message of sympathy Mrs. Nickson, of Stanley Street, Runcorn, has received from the chaplain to her son's regiment in acquainting her of the death of her son, Private Charles Henry Nickson in the field of battle. The first intimation of his death came in a letter written to his parents another Runcorn soldier, and a wire to the commanding officer confirmed this in the short message: "Regret killed in action October 20th." This was followed by a letter from the chaplain, who writes: "You will have heard by now the sad news that your son, Private C. H. Nickson, was mortally hit on October 20th. and died very soon afterwards of his wounds. As chaplain of the regiment I just want to say how deeply I sympathise with you in your great loss. I think it will help you in your great trouble to know that your son made his communion only two days before we went into action, and also that we were able to bury his body where he fell. I am afraid thew are all the details I am able to give you. Will you try to remember for your comfort that he died the finest death a man can die, fighting for his country and the right, and also that it is only his poor body that lies here in France, while his soul, his real self you know and love, has gone back to God who loves him too. May God, who loves you and gave his only Son to die for you, comfort you in your hour of sorrow. We don't forget to pray for you."
Private C. H. Nickson, who was only 19 years of age, joined the Liverpool "Pals" in November, 1914, at the early age of 17. Although very sociable, he was rather of a shy and reserved nature, and was given much to study. He spent his training days first at Knowsley, then at Grantham, and afterwards at Salisbury Plain, and during the twelve months he had been in France he had taken part in all the big engagements in which the "Pals" had played so conspicuous a part. Since he went out he had not been able to get home on leave. Prior to the war he was employed at the offices of the Bridgewater department of the Manchester Ship Canal. He attended the Parish Church Sunday School, and was a chorister in the Parish Church Choir.
Runcorn Guardian - Friday 10 November 1916
Compiled by Graeme Ainsworth