2nd Lieutenant Geoffrey Douglas Lothian Nicholson

Thank you to Lenka Cathersides for the following research.

The connection of Geoffrey Nicholson to Okewood Hill and Forest Green is unknown.

Geoffrey Douglas Lothian Nicholson was born on 30^th October 1897 in India to Major General Sir Cecil Lothian Nicholson K.C.B., C.M.G. and Dame Katherine Elizabeth Frances Nicholson nee Ranking. At this time the family resided in Agra.

Geoffrey’s father Cecil was born in the 4^th quarter of 1865 in Middlesex to Lothian and Mary (nee Romilly). They married in the 4^th quarter of 1864 in Kensington, London. Cecil was baptised on 3^rd December 1865 in Buriton, Hampshire. During the 1881 Census, Cecil was a boarding pupil at Marlborough College, Marlborough and Preshute. Geoffrey’s mother Katherine was born on 17^th November 1865 in Samalcotta, India to Lieutenant (later Colonel) in the Madras Army William Lancaster Ranking, born about 1842 in Madras and Jane Fanny Ranking, born about 1844 in Madras. Katherine was baptised on 24^th December 1865 in Samulcottah, Trichinopoly, India. Cecil and Katherine married on 15^th April 1896 at St Mary’s church in Belgaum, Bombay, India. At the time of the marriage, Lieutenant Nicholson resided at Ranikhet in India and Katherine at Belgaum, India.

Geoffrey had two sisters: Cecily Mary born on 16^th August 1899 and Muriel Romilly born on 29^th July 1901, both in India. Muriel died of mucoenteritis and convulsion on 7^th March 1902 in India and was buried at the NainiTal Civil Cemetery, Kalaghungi Road, Bengal. She was 7 months and 7 days old.

At the time of the 1911 Census, Geoffrey was a pupil at The Grange School, Shorncliffe road, Folkestone in Kent.

At the time of the 1911 Census, Cecil and Katherine were visitors to Cecil’s sister Maud at Vicars Hill Lodge, Boldre, Lymington, Hampshire. The residence had fourteen rooms.

Geoffrey Nicholson became a 2^nd Lieutenant of the 4^th Battalion, the Worcestershire Regiment. He disembarked in November 1916 to France.

Geoffrey Nicholson was killed in an action during the Arras offensive at the 2^nd Battle of the Scarpe in France on 23^rd April 1917. On 24^th April 1917 Geoffrey was reported wounded and missing.

He is commemorated at the Arras Memorial. His panel reference is: Bay 6.

Geoffrey Nicholson received the British War and Victory medals. The medals were applied for by Geoffrey’s father, Major General Cecil Lothian Nicholson, K.C.B. (Order of the Bath – Knight Commander), C.M.G. (Order of St Michael and St George – Companion), HQ (Head Quarters) the 55^th (West Lancashire) Division Territorial Army, 21 Islington, Liverpool on 4^th October 1921.

Geoffrey’s father also received £36 on 22^nd November 1919 in Soldier’s Effects. Geoffrey’s family also lived at Hursley, Camberley in Surrey.

Major General Cecil Lothian Nicholson K.C.B., C.M.G. of the United Service Club, Pall Mall, Middlesex and of Meyrick House, Trinity Crescent, Folkestone died on 3^rd March 1933 at Manor Court Nursing Home, Manor road, Folkestone. He left £727 and 6s to his widow Katherine. Dame Katherine Elizabeth Frances Nicholson of 11 Grosvenor Crescent, St Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex died on 21^st January 1951 at 63 Pevensey Road, St Leonards-on-Sea. She left £1707, 19s and 6d in the Probate. Geoffrey’s sister Cecily died in June 1982 in Newbury, Berkshire. She was 82 years old.

Born	Agra, Bengal, India
Son of	Major General Sir Cecil Lothian and Dame Katherine Elizabeth Frances Nicholson nee Ranking
Regiment	4th Battalion.The Worcestershire Regiment
Date of Death	23rd April 1917
Place of Death	Arras, France
Cause of Death	Killed in Action
Age	19
Memorial	Arras Memorial, France