2nd Lieut George Gaston Nickel

• Age: 34
• From: Paris, France
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• K.I.A Tuesday 31st July 1917
• Commemorated at: Menin Gate Memorial
  Panel Ref: Panel 4 & 6

George Anne Gaston Nickel* was born on 31st July 1883 in Paris, France the second son of Mr Albert Victor Prosper Nickel and his wife Adelaide Peachey (nee Cartmel) who was born at Pwllcrochan, Pembrokeshire, Wales. The couple married in London in 1881. His elder brother, Oswald was also born in France on 11th July 1882. 
[*His full name stated on his Naturalisation Papers 03^rd December 1915, 25 Fern Grove, Liverpool]  

George was educated at Merchant Taylors School, Crosby, Liverpool from 1895 -1900. Having spent most of his formative years in France he was a fluent French speaker.  

In the 1901 Census he was 17 years old living at 10, Amberley Street, Toxteth Park, Liverpool with his widowed mother Adelaide aged 48, and was working as shipping office clerk. Also present was mother's sister Mary A. Cartmel aged 63, also born Pwllcrochan. They have a domestic Ellen Pugh 39.

In 1911 the family were living at 159 Bedford Street, Liverpool. Mother Adelaide aged 58, sons Oswald Victor aged 28, no occupation born in France, George is aged 27, now working as a journalist. The sister and domestic are still present, also a boarder George Simpson aged 30, a surgeon.

His service records show that he enlisted in Liverpool on the 05th November 1914. He was aged 31 years and 93 days, and was described as being six feet tall and weighed 146lbs. He was of a sallow complexion, had grey eyes and light brown hair. His religion was stated as Church of England.

He was formerly Private 22192, 20th Battalion, the King’s Liverpool Regiment.

On the 31st July 1915 he was discharged for re-enlistment as Corporal No 5348, Inns of Court Officers Training Corps. 

He was gazetted on 27th December 1915 into the 20th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as a Second Lieutenant and joined the Battalion in France in the February 1917 when it was in billets at Moncheit, in northern France.

The Yorkshire Post of 21^st October 1916 reported:

Temporary Second-Lieutenants

Nickel G. G.;

Presumably he took part in the Battle of Arras in April, although he is not specifically mentioned in the Battalion War Diary during this period.

His transfer was featured in the Yorkshire Post on 02^nd May 1917:

Temporary Second-Lieutenants Transferred to Service Battalions

Liverpool Regiment - G. G. Nickel;

On 20th May he went with two other ranks, to the VIIth Corps School of Infantry, for a course of instruction and on 10th July 1917,presumably put his instruction to good use, when he himself lectured the officers and NCO’S of the 20th Battalion on map reading, and the use of the compass.

He was killed three weeks later on the 31st July 1917, his 34th birthday, on the opening day of the Battle of Passchendaele, near Ypres, Belgium.

20^th Battalion

On that day, the 89th Brigade was to follow up the attacks of the 21st and 90th Brigades and once their objectives had been taken, to go through them and secure a line of strong points on the German third line. The 89th Brigade line of attack was from the South West corner of Polygon Wood, to the Menin Road. The 17th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment was on the left of the attack, and the 20th to the right, with the 19th Battalion and the 2nd Battalion The Bedfordshire Regiment, in Divisional Reserve.

On that day, the 89th Brigade was to follow up the attacks of the 21st and 90th Brigades and once their objectives had been taken, to go through them and secure a line of strong points on the German third line. The 89th Brigade line of attack was from the South West corner of Polygon Wood, to the Menin Road. The 17th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment was on the left of the attack, and the 20th to the right, with the 19th Battalion and the 2nd Battalion, The Bedfordshire Regiment, in Divisional Reserve.

The Battalion moved into assembly positions east of Maple Copse between 05.00 and 05.20am, they were heavily shelled and suffered many casualties. At 07.50 they began to advance with the 17^th Battalion on the left, and the 20^th on the right, the whole time under heavy shell fire. On reaching their position which was the Blue Line , troops of both the 21^st and 90^th Brigades were still pinned down  and thus any attempt at further progress were futile.

At this point a message was sent to Brigade HQ advising that Companies were digging in on and consolidating a line running south from Stirling Castle.

On that day, the 89th Brigade was to follow up the attacks of the 21st and 90th Brigades and once their objectives had been taken, to go through them and secure a line of strong points on the German third line. The 89th Brigade line of attack was from the South West corner of Polygon Wood, to the Menin Road. The 17th Battalion The King’s Liverpool Regiment was on the left of the attack, and the 20th to the right, with the 19th Battalion and the 2nd Battalion The Bedfordshire Regiment, in Divisional Reserve.

Zero Hour was 03.50 am, and although it was still dark when the Battalion moved forward through driving rain, and very poor visibility, it advanced steadily without interference. At around 07.00am the Germans began to shell quite heavily, causing about thirty Casualties. The shelling developed into a barrage, which fortunately did not take a heavy toll, as the 20th was able to move through it to the German support line, but it had the effect of isolating the Battalion from support, right or left. By midday the Battalion had began to dig in along its line, as it became clear that the Germans still held their positions on the left of the advance d were able to enfillade the attackers. By nightfall the Battalion had established and consolidated new positions overlooking Dumbarton Lake, and was in contact with troops from the 21st Brigade.

Casualties on the day were comparatively light, with only twenty six other ranks, and Second-Lieutenant Nickel being killed, or dying of wounds. Nickel was killed whilst carrying out liason duties with the 3rd Battalion The Rifle Brigade, of the 17th Infantry Brigade, who attacked on the right of the 20th Battalion. 

His body could not be found and identified after the war, and he is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing of the Ypres Salient, at Ypres, Belgium.

The site of the Menin Gate was chosen because of the hundreds of thousands of men who passed through it on their way to the battlefields. It commemorates casualties from the forces of Australia, Canada, India, South Africa and United Kingdom who died in the Salient. In the case of United Kingdom casualties, only those prior 16 August 1917 (with some exceptions). United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after that date are named on the memorial at Tyne Cot, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war. New Zealand casualties that died prior to 16 August 1917 are commemorated on memorials at Buttes New British Cemetery and Messines Ridge British Cemetery.

The YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL now bears the names of more than 54,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield with sculpture by Sir William Reid-Dick, was unveiled by Lord Plumer on 24 July 1927.

His death was reported in the Liverpool Daily Post on the 17^th August 1917:

Hall of Remembrance, Liverpool Town Hall, Panel 19 

Memorial Cross in St Michael

All Saints Church, Beetham, Cumbria

Beetham Roll of Honour

A personal plaque located inside St Michael and All Saints Church

Merchant Taylors School  Memorial.  

His brother Oswald Victor also joined up on the 17th July 1916 aged 33 yrs and 11 months, but did not go to the front. He worked as a shipping clerk in Liverpool. He first gave his mother as his next of kin then it was changed to his wife, Winifred (nee Glynn) whom he married on the 17th February 1917 in Liverpool and now was living at "Oriel" 38 Princess Avenue, Liverpool. When he enlisted he was Gunner 2249, Royal Garrison Artillery Depot, Then, Bombardier 362649 with the 1/5th Coy Lancashire and Cheshire, Royal Garrison Artillery. He was at Hipsford Battery on the 30th December 1916 and then was posted to 24th Fire Command on the 2nd November 1918 and finally posted to No 2 Royal Garrison Artillery Officers Cadet School as Cadet Bombardier. He was demobilized as a Lieutenant on the 12th February 1919 to his home at 25, Fern Grove, Liverpool. 

His mother died, aged 78, in Kendal in the September quarter of 1931.

We currently have no further information on George Gaston Nickel, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.