Hautrage Military Cemetery, 1st Battalion, Cheshire Regiment, Killed in Action 1914

This is a large cemetery containing 773 graves: 235 British and 538 German. 175 of the British are named the remainder "Known Unto God".

The Cemetery was started by the Germans in 1914 and used by them to bury British casualties. It was used in again in 1918 to bring together burials from different parts of the battlefield.

The Cemetery contains just 1 soldier of the Cheshire Regiment, but a very large majority of the others buried here were killed in action on 23 or 24 August 1914 during the 'Retreat from Mons'.

Private 5259 William NICHOLSON
	Date of Death:	24 August 1914 (Killed in Action)
	Grave No:	I. A. 13.
	Unit:	n/k
	Age:	30
	Awards:	Long Service and Good Conduct Medal.


	Personal History:
	William was born in the June quarter 1883 at 3 American Buildings, Broad Street, Teddington, Middlesex, the youngest son of 10 children of the late Charles (Gardener) and Jane Nicholson. His elder siblings were Henry W., Charles T., Margaret E., Herbert E., Annie E., Eliza, Alice, and twins, John and Bertha (1891 Census RG 12/618). His father appears to have died in 1890 when William was only 6 years old.
	Military History:
	Currently his Army records are unavailable, and do not appear to have survived the Second World War bombing; all that is known is that William enlisted at Chester. His Medal Index Card shows that at the outbreak of War and entered France 16 August 1914 and in view of his age he was probably recalled from the Reserve List. He was killed in action on 24 August during the Battalion's stand at Audregnies.