NICHOL, Boyd McGregor

DIVISIONAL UNIT:        3rd Canadian Infantry Division
                                             9th Infantry Brigade
                                             43rd Battalion  -  Cameron Highlanders of Canada
                                             “C” Company
                                             Canadian Infantry Corps
SERVICE NO:                   198470
RESIDENCE:                    Fort William - Ontario
DATE OF BIRTH:            September 8, 1897
                                             Lucknow – Ashfield / West Wawanosh Townships – County of Huron - Ontario
DATE OF DEATH:           September 21, 1916             19 years
MEMORIAL:                    Vimy Memorial – Vimy –
                                             Pas de Calais - France
PARENTS:                         Mr. John and Grace Nichol – Fort William - Ontario
Occupation:                        Railway Car Clerk               Religion:     Presbyterian
Enlistment:                         December 13, 1915 – Fort William – Ontario – into 94th Battalion
Enlistment Age:                 18 years     3 months

Private Nichol and his unit boarded the SS Olympic and embarked from Halifax on June 28, 1916 and arriving in Liverpool on July 6, 1916.
While at East Sandling he transferred to the 17th Battalion on July 13, 1916. He then transferred to the 43rd Battalion and went overseas into France to the Canadian Base Depot on August 18, 1916. He joined his unit in the field on September 12, 1916.
The Battalion was front right on line and “C” Company was especially hit with casualties following the enemy artillery fire that was brought down on them. Casualties included 11 men killed, 10 men wounded and 2 men missing. Their location was Mouquet Farm.
Private Nichol lost his life in action while his Company was advancing upon an enemy trench known as Zollern Graben. This advance took place near Courcelette during the morning of September 21, 1916.
From looking at the service files of Private Nichol, from reading the war diaries of both the 9th Infantry Brigade and 43rd Battalion for that day we can say with certainty that Private Nichol lost his life during that very heavy artillery bombardment.