REMEMBERING OUR LOCAL HEROES – SAPPER JAMES NICKELL

The 38 (Irish) Brigade Local heroes Competition proved something of a labour of love for Joseph Nickell, a Cadet Sergeant with Donaghadee Army Cadet Force detachment as, joined by his friend, Cadet Corporal Dylan Murphy, he uncovered the story of a relative who died in the Great War, Sapper James Nickell.

James was born in Ballymacarrett, Belfast in 1893, one of Annie and Robert Nickell’s ten children. From the age of 14 he worked as a cabinet maker and the 1911 census records him, at age 17, following the same trade.  Soon after the outbreak of war, in 1914, his life took a different turn as he, and his brothers Alfred and William enlisted in the army, firmly believing that it was their duty to fight for King and Country.  His father, Robert, also went off to fight.

As a soldier with The Royal Engineers, James joined 7th Field Company, providing technical support and know-how to front line Infantry units. By the Summer of 1914 he was becoming an experienced soldier and, in that year he saw action at the first Battle of Marne, at Messines and Aisne.

In 1915 he joined the Northumbrian Division and was immediately involved in more bitter fighting as Engineers worked to strengthen defences in the face of increasing enemy action.  By December of that year James had moved to Ypres Salient and the danger intensified ….in January 1916, aged just 22, James was shot and died in the base hospital.  He is buried at Perth Cemetery, near Ypres in Belgium.

Cadet Sergeant Joseph Nickell says, “When we started this project, James was just a name and a collection of old photos and yellowing documents to me … now I see him as a real person – and a very courageous one.  It’s horrible to think that he died so young and so far from home in circumstances which must have been absolutely terrifying but I think the most poignant thing is that his father learned of James’s death when he himself returned safely from war.”

Cadet Corporal Dylan Murphy adds, “Researching James brought the history books to life for us and reminded us of the youth of some of the soldiers who were fighting in the trenches of World War 1. I am sure, when they left their homes, many of the young men felt they were headed for adventure and excitement as they fulfilled what they saw as their patriotic duty.  The reality was a different, often tragic, story.”

Pictured above, preparing to present their findings about their ‘local hero’, James Nickell, are Donaghadee Cadets (left) Joseph Nickell and Dylan Murphy.