Six: Company Sergeant Major T. G. Nicholls, Devonshire Regiment, who was seriously wounded...

Six: Company Sergeant Major T. G. Nicholls, Devonshire Regiment, who was seriously wounded in the abdomen at the Battle of Loos on 25 September 1915 Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Tugela Heights, Orange Free State, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal, Laing’s Nek (3444 Cpl. T. G. Nicholls, Devon: Regt.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (3444 Serjt. T. G. Nicholls. Devon: Regt.); 1914-15 Star (7178 C.S. Mjr. T. G. Nicholls. Devon. R.); British War and Victory Medals (7178 W.O. Cl. 2. T. Nicholls. Devon. R.); Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (7178 C.S. Mjr. T. G. Nicholls. Devon. R.) heavy scratches to reverse of Star in an attempt to obliterate naming (but all details perfectly legible); contact marks, especially to the Boer War pair, otherwise nearly very fine and better (6) £240-£280 --- Thomas George Nicholls was born in Plympton, Devon in 1873. A Labourer by occupation he attested for the Devonshire Regiment at Torquay on 1 February 1892. Initially with the Depot, Exeter he was posted to the 2nd Battalion at Plymouth on 7 July 1894. Promoted to Corporal he was transferred to Reserve on 1 February 1899 but almost immediately recalled for service in South Africa, arriving with the 2nd Battalion in Durban on 19 November 1899 and being promoted Sergeant the next day. The battalion took part in the actions at Colenso, Relief of Ladysmith and the capture of Botha’s Pass (Laing’s Nek). Returning to England with his battalion he re-engaged to complete 21 years’ service on 5 December 1902. Posted to the 1st Battalion he embarked to join them at Shahjahanpur, India, on 17 January 1905 . Returning to England with the 1st Battalion he left them at Malta with a draft posted to the 2nd Battalion then en-route for Candia, Crete to form part of the Inter-nation Garrison serving on the island. Returning to England he was discharged at his own request 31 January 1911. Aged 41, Nicholls was recalled from Reserve and re-attested at Exeter on 1 September 1914. Posted first to the newly formed 8th (Service) Battalion and then transferred to the 9th (Service) Battalion on 2 October 1914, he was promoted Colour Sergeant and appointed Company Sergeant Major. He embarked with the newly trained 9th Battalion and arrived at Le Havre on 27 July 1915. Taking part in their first action at Loos between 25th and 28th September 1915 he received a gunshot wound to the right side of his abdomen and was evacuated to England on 2 October 1915. On recovery he was posted to the 44th Training Reserve Battalion at Wareham and was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal on 1 October 1917. Finally discharged to pension aged 46 on 29 August 1919, he was subsequently employed as an Electrical Engineer, and died at Mitcham, Surrey on 28 December 1936, aged 63. Sold with copied service records and other research.