Donald Brown Nicol

Submitted by Mt Kembla Minin... on Fri, 29/05/2015 - 09:57

First Name:

Donald

Middle Name:

Brown

Last Name:

Nicol

Mother's Name:

Mary Nicol (nee Brown)

Father's Name:

Archibald Nicol

Date Enlisted:

Monday, February 28, 1916

Rank at Enlistment:

Private

Rank at Discharge:

Corporal

Unit:

56th Battalion

Service:

Infantry

Awards:

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Date of Death:

Monday, October 15, 1917

Place of Death:

Polygon Wood, Belgium

Cause of Death:

Wounded and died in action

Details:

Donald Nicol (Service No 2453) was born at Wickham, Newcastle, N.S.W. around 1897.

He attended Wonoona Superior Public School, N.S.W. and spent 1 year in 37th Infantry CMF. At the time of enlistment he was a single 18 year old clerk.

Donald embarked on HMAT A60 Aeneas with the 5th Reinforcement, 56th Battalion on 30th September 1916.

On 13th April 1917 he was promoted to Corporal and joined his unit in France on 25th April 1917. Donald was briefly seconded to the 1st Australian Tunneling Company for a week in September 1917, after which he returned to his unit. While engaged in the battle for Polygon Wood on 15th October 1917 he was wounded and evacuated to 11th Field Ambulance, then to 3rd Casualty Clearing Station with serious wounds to his mouth, both legs and a shattered left arm.

Donald died of these wounds the same day. He is buried in Nine Elms British Cemetery, Poperinghe Belgium. Plot IV, Row C, Grave 9.

His service and sacrifice is commemorated on the Bulli-Woonona War Memorial.

Sources:

NAA: B2455, NICOL DONALD BROWN