Origins

Charles Peter Nicholson was born in Chesterfield on 11 July 1919, His parents were Charles and Isobel Nicholson. Charles was a Cashier with John Brown Steel in 1921 and the family were living in Handsworth Woodhouse. His brother, William, died in 1927 aged 10 years.

In 1936, the family moved to No. 11 Chorley Drive.

Charles Peter was educated at Magdalen College School, Brackley and later at Oakham School, Rutland.

Early Career

After leaving school in 1938, Nicholson joined the National Provincial Bank at its Infirmary Road branch. After an initial period, he became a junior clerk.

War Service

In April 1939 Nicholson joined the officer cadet reserve so when war was declared in September, he immediately left his job at the bank and joined up as a Gunner in the Royal Artillery. He was commissioned in April 1940 and was sent straight to the front in France. He returned to the UK during the Dunkirk evacuation. He was posted to India, Persia, Palestine and Egypt.

He was wounded in action In July 1943, during the invasion of Sicily, and evacuated to a hospital in Malta. After making a full recovery he re-joined his battery in Italy and was promoted to Captain.

He was involved in the push through Italy from Naples to Rome by American and British Armies. On 20 January 1944, Captain Charles Peter Nicholson was fatally wounded on the Garigliano main front.

He was taken to the advanced dressing station where he died later that day. He was 24 years old.

He is buried at the cemetery in Minturno which is on the Adriatic coast about 80Km north of Naples.

He is commemorated on his parents grave in Barlborough, the Oakham School Chapel and on the memorial at Fulwood.

Notes

Much of the above information, including the picture, originated on the NatWest Group Remembers website:

https://www.natwestgroupremembers.com/our-fallen/our-fallen-ww2/n/charles-nicholson.html