Private JOHN NICOLSON
"Philip" - Iain, Mac Mhurchaidh Mhic Neacail
Last address in Lewis: 3 North Tolsta
Son of Murdo and Isabella Morrison Nicolson, of 3, North Tolsta, Stornoway.
Service unit: 8th/10th Gordon Highlanders
Service number: 3/6201
Enlisted at Stornoway
Date of death: 16 April 1917 at the age of 19
Killed in action
Interred: Etaples Military Cemetery, grave XXII. J. 17
Local memorial: North Tolsta
The 1901 census shows John as a 4-year old at "Tolsta Peats" with his parents Murdo (50) and Isabella (43) as well as siblings Annie (11), Isabella (9), John (6) and Johanna (6 months).
Stornoway Gazette, 27 April 1917
Died of wounds
Mr Murdo Nicholson, Hill Street, North Tolsta, has received intimation that his younger son, private John Nicolson, Gordons, who had been reported last week as dangerously wounded in the chest, had died on Monday of last week. The deceased, who was 20 years of age, was mobilised at the beginning of the war, but owing to his being under age, was retained in Aberdeen until December 1916, when, in his intense eagerness to get to the front, he managed somehow to slip into a draft leaving for France. “Philip” as John was generally known here, was a great favourite. Of a bright and kindly disposition, he was much beloved by old and young. Indeed, a gloom has been cast over the whole district by the sad news of his death. To the bereaved family the heartfelt sympathy of the whole community is extended. North Tolsta has now lost no fewer than 23 men, equivalent to 11.5 percent of those serving. In this particular part of the village, called Hill Street, there are only six families and five of these have each lost a man in the war. Only four survive now out of the nine called up from that street at the outbreak of hostilities
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