Pte
Robert John Nickle
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 17/10/1893 |
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Place of birth: Madoc, Hastings County, Ontario, Canada |
General information
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Last known residence: Marmora, Ontario, Canada |
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Profession: Farmer |
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Religion: Methodist |
Army information
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Country: Canada |
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Force: Canadian Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Private |
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Service number: 1093271 |
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Enlistment date: 19/01/2017 |
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Enlistment place: Marmora, Ontario, Canada |
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Units: — Canadian Infantry, 21st Bn. (Eastern Ontario) (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 03/11/1917 |
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Place of death: Tyne Cottage, Passchendaele, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 24 |
Cemetery
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Tyne Cot Cemetery Plot: I Row: D Grave: 5 |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 4
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Last known residence | ||
| #3 | Enlistment place | ||
| #4 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Robert was born on 17 October 1893 in Madoc, Ontario, the son of John D. & Margaret A. Nickle. He was working as a farmer when he enlisted in January 1917. After training in Canada, he went to the UK via Halifax on the 'SS Olympic' and from there to France. Robert was attached on 2 September 1917 to the 21st Battalion Canadian Infantry, (Eastern Ontario), 4th Canadian Brigade, of the 2nd Canadian Division.
After being stationed for some time at the Somme and Vimy, the Canadian Corps was sent to Flanders.
On 2 November 1917 they arrived at Potijze at dusk, after a meal they moved on to the heights of Passchendaele to relieve the 72nd Battalion of the 4th Division. The relief was completed by 2.15am. In the early morning of 3 November, German troops penetrated the trenches north-east of Crest Farm, after a skirmish they were pushed back. At 4.45am a German barrage began and at 5.10am German storm troops attacked the positions on the right. A Canadian counterattack was quickly organised and the lines were restored. Another German attack followed at 5.40 am, but it was repulsed by the Canadians thanks to intense rifle and machine-gun fire. Eight Germans were made prisoners of war, five of whom were wounded. On the night of 4-5 November, the 21st battalion was relieved and was able to return to the Potijze and from there to their camp near Brandhoek, Vlamertinge.
In the 48 hours at the front, the 21st Battalion reported the following losses: 3 officers killed, 2 wounded, 41 lower ranks killed and 89 wounded. Robert was one of the dead; he was buried in the battlefield cemetery, which would later become Tyne Cot Cemetery.
After being stationed for some time at the Somme and Vimy, the Canadian Corps was sent to Flanders.
On 2 November 1917 they arrived at Potijze at dusk, after a meal they moved on to the heights of Passchendaele to relieve the 72nd Battalion of the 4th Division. The relief was completed by 2.15am. In the early morning of 3 November, German troops penetrated the trenches north-east of Crest Farm, after a skirmish they were pushed back. At 4.45am a German barrage began and at 5.10am German storm troops attacked the positions on the right. A Canadian counterattack was quickly organised and the lines were restored. Another German attack followed at 5.40 am, but it was repulsed by the Canadians thanks to intense rifle and machine-gun fire. Eight Germans were made prisoners of war, five of whom were wounded. On the night of 4-5 November, the 21st battalion was relieved and was able to return to the Potijze and from there to their camp near Brandhoek, Vlamertinge.
In the 48 hours at the front, the 21st Battalion reported the following losses: 3 officers killed, 2 wounded, 41 lower ranks killed and 89 wounded. Robert was one of the dead; he was buried in the battlefield cemetery, which would later become Tyne Cot Cemetery.
Sources 4
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McCarthy Chris., Passchendaele. The Day-by-Day Account (London, Unicorn Publishing Group, 2018) 158-160. Sources used |
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Personnel Records of the First World War (Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa (LAC), RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 7325 - 70. https://recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca Sources used |
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War diaries: 21st Canadian Infantry Battalion (Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa (LAC), RG9-III-D-3, Volume number: 4931, Microfilm reel number: T-10731--T-10732, File number: 410, File part: 3). https://library-archives.canada.ca/ Sources used |
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War Graves Registers: Circumstances of Death (Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa (LAC), RG150, 1992-1993/314, Volume Number: 31829_B016765). http://www.ancestry.co.uk Sources used |
More information 4
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/464104 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=da7a2665-83bd-4f98-99c7-36cd082552c3 |
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The Canadian Virtual War Memorial https://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/memorials/canadian-virtual-war-memorial/detail/464104 |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/6037995 |