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| Name: |
Arthur Dennis NICHOLSON |
|
| Casualty No.: |
|
Ranks: |
Sergeant (Pilot) |
Initials: |
A D |
Service No.: |
1098136 |
|
| Date of Birth : |
30/01/1922 |
Place of Birth : |
Westoe Nursing Home, South Shields, Co Durham. |
Age at Death: |
21 |
|
| Unit: |
103 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. |
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| Place Enlisted: |
RAF Padgate, Doncaster, Yorkshire. |
| Place of Residence: |
Greenside, Ryton on Tyne, Co. Durham. |
| Home Address: |
Holly House, Greenside, Ryton on Tyne, Co. Durham. |
| Previous Address: |
|
| Civilian Employment: |
Press tool maker. |
| How Died: |
Killed in action |
| Date of Death: |
Thursday 29th April 1943 |
| Place of Death: |
Denmark |
| Battle/Campaign: |
Undertaking air operations. |
| Locally Commemorated: |
Ryton War Memorial, Station Bank, Ryton on Tyne, Co. Durham.
Greenside War Memorial, Greenside, Ryton on Tyne, Co. Durham.
St John's Church, Roll of Honour, Greenside, Ryton on Tyne, Co. Durham.
The initials on both memorials and the Roll of Honour are incorrectly given as A.L.
|
| UK Commemorated: |
Hookergate School Memorial, Highfield, Co. Durham. |
| Overseas Commemorated: |
- |
| Buried: |
Esbjerg (Fourfelt) Cemetery, Denmark. |
| Decoration and Medals: |
1939-45 Star. Air Crew Europe Star. War Medal. |
| Photographs: |
1 |
| Service Records: |
Yes |
| Death Notice/Obituary: |
|
| Family Details: |
Son of James Bertram and Mary Florence Nicholson (nee Morley), of Holly House, The Folly, Greenside, Ryton on Tyne, Co. Durham. |
| Notes : |
As a press tool maker, Arthur was in a reserved occupation and his service record states that he was not to be employed other than as a Pilot or Observer without the notice of the Air Ministry.
He volunteered to fly for the RAF and enlisted on 21st March 1941, commencing his training on 14th July 1941. In September 1941 he entered the Arnold Scheme in America (US Flying Schools) and completed his training in various parts of the USA and then returned to England in June 1942 where he undertook further training.
Once the training was complete he was posted to 103 Squadron RAF based at Elsham Wolds, Lincolnshire, where he flew Lancaster bombers. During his fifth operation Arthur's plane was shot down by an enemy night fighter, early in the morning of the 29th April 1943, at Jordup, Denmark, 7½ miles North West of Kolding.
Arthur and his crew were buried by the Germans with full military honours.
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| Sources Used: |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission Debt of Honour Register.
Newcastle Evening Chronicle, Roll of Honour, 13th June 1944.
Information from family members.
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