| Places | |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | 3DRL/2715 |
| Collection type | Private Record |
| Record type | Collection |
| Measurement | 0.2M |
| Object type | Papers |
| Maker |
Nicolson, Norman Alexander |
| Date made | 1915-1918 |
| Access | Open |
| Related File This file can be copied or viewed via the Memorial’s Reading Room. | AWM315 419/076/011 |
| Conflict |
First World War, 1914-1918 |
| Copying Provisions | Copyright expired. Copying permitted subject to physical condition. Permission for reproduction not required. |
Nicolson, Norman Alexander (Captain, 5th Division Artillery, AIF. d.1962)
Description
Typed copies of diaries and letters covering Captain Nicolson’s service with the 5th Division Artillery of the Australian Imperial Force. Part 1: From enlistment to embarkation for overseas (January 1915 – January 1916; Part 2: On transport and at Ismailia, Egypt; Part 3: Training on desert to arrival at front in France; Part 4: From the Battle of Fromelles to Flers on the Somme (July – November 1916); Part 5: Somme Winter to Beaumetz; Part 6: Up to the end of the Third Battle of Ypres; Part 7: Wytschaete to demobilisation; Part 8: Miscellaneous records, mostly official papers relating to Nicholson’s artillery units.
Norman Alexander Nicholson was born in Campbell Town, Tasmania on 7 January 1886. He joined the 26th Light Horse in 1910 and by 1912 had been commissioned as a second lieutenant. Joining the AIF in 1915, Nicolson was initially allotted to the 14th reinforcements for the 5th Light Horse Regiment (as a second lieutenant) and sailed from Brisbane on 30 January 1916 on the HMAT Wandilla.
Arriving in Egypt several weeks later, Nicolson transferred to the newly formed 5th Division Artillery and soon joined the 52nd Field Artillery Battery (then of 13th Field Artillery Brigade). Made lieutenant on 5 June 1916, he sailed with his unit to France, arriving on 23 June. On 9 July he transferred to 25th Field Artillery Brigade with which he served at Fleurbaix (Fromelles) and on the Somme.
In January 1917 Nicolson transferred to the 115th Field Artillery (Howitzer) Battery. In mid-February he was temporarily attached to 14th Field Artillery Brigade until mid-May, when he joined the 114th Field Artillery (Howitzer) Battery.
Nicolson attended Army School from 28 September to 7 October 1917 during which time he was made captain on 1 October. In the New Year he attended Artillery School at Shoeburyness, Essex UK during all of January 1918, returning to his unit in early February. He remained with 14th Field Artillery Brigade for the remainder of the war and served during the battles of Villers-Bretonneux, Amiens, Péronne and the Hindenburg Line. He returned to Australia in June 1919. Nicolson was mentioned in despatches in 1919 for conspicuous service with the AIF. He died on 22 February 1962.