FALLEN NEW ZEALANDERS.
SERGT. JOHN McRAE NICOL.
Advice has been received by Mrs H. S. Nicol, No. 16 William street, Dunedin, stating that her nephew, Sergeant John McRae Nicol, had died at sea on September 15 when the vessel on which he was returning was within a few hundred miles of New Zealand. The deceased soldier was just 23 years of age. He was born at Waikoikoi, and was the third son of the late Mr Alex. Nicol, at one time schoolmaster at Waikoikoi. The lad was educated at the High Street and Moray Place Schools, and subsequently attended the Technical College and Knox College classes to finish off. After leaving school he went to work for H. E. Shacklock, Ltd., and about three years later went into the employ of Messrs Turnbull and Jones to finish his trade as an electrical engineer, and was still in the employ of that firm when he enlisted with the Otago Infantry, Seventh Reinforcements. The boy was always keen on getting away to "do his bit," but he was not fit to undergo very great hardships, as he was not at all robust. He went to France with his battalion, and was badly wounded in the head by a German sniper at Armentieres about 12 months ago. After being in hospital at Boulogne for some time, he was sent to Doncaster, and then later still to several other hospitals in England. The lad's health evidently broke down completely, and it was rather a sad ending after he had almost reached his home once more. The advice received by his aunt states that he was bright and cheery up to the last. He was a good-living lad, and was an enthusiastic hockey player, being a member of the St. Andrew's Hockey Club. He was also the leader of the St. Andrew's Junior Bible Class. -Evening Star, 28/9/1917.
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