John Laurence LeClare Nicholson1
#11683, (31 January 1896-18 February 1942)
| Father | Daniel Malcolm McBean Nicholson1 (6 Jan 1859-6 Nov 1921) |
| Mother | Catherine Ann O'Reilly1 (18 Feb 1863-7 Jun 1902) |
| Charts | Brown family - descendants Miller Family (Scotland) - descendants Nicholson Family 1 - descendants Four generations |
| Last Edited | 3 Apr 2013 |
NOTE: The information on this page is my research to date and is subject to change as I become better informed. I very much welcome any corrections or additional info you might have - my email address is at the bottom of this page. Whilst historical facts are not copyright, my writing about these facts are. If you wish to use any text from this site on Ancestry or on any other website, please ask me first - Tim Hill.
John Laurence LeClare Nicholson was born on 31 January 1896 at Winton, Queensland.1 He was the son of Daniel Malcolm McBean Nicholson and Catherine Ann O'Reilly.1 John Laurence LeClare Nicholson was also known as Jack.2
His mother died June 1902 at the age of 39. John was aged 6 when this happened. After their mother died, their father apparently didn't help raise the children; they were fostered or looked after by family and friends in the Winton and Kyuna district. There is some suggestion that their grandmother never acknowledged her grandchildren, yet according to the birth certificates she assisted with at least some of the births..3 John was listed on the roll as a student at Winton State Primary School, in Winton, Queensland, in 1904.4
He learned bookkeeping at Scott's College.4
John Laurence LeClare Nicholson married Amy Gill, daughter of George James Gill and Harriett Ann Ford, on Saturday, 27 February 1915 at Kuridala, Queensland. They were 19 and 16 respectively.1 John Laurence LeClare Nicholson was a clerk in May 1915.5 He was a clerk circa 1921 at Kuridala, Queensland.6 He was a bookkeeper for Burns Phillip in 1922.4 He was a bookkeeper for Holliman's hardware store in 1925.4 He was a clerk for Ross River Meat Works. In the off season he would work as acattle buyer by phone in 1929 at Townsville, Queensland.4
John and Amy bought 5 acres of land at Arcaciavale (now Aitkenvale) in Townsville. they kept cows and raised chickens and a couple of geese, the eggs of which John and his sons would sell door to door. John bought his son Laurence a horse for his help.6 John lived in 1934 at at Wellington Street in the Townsville suburb of Acaciavale.6 He was a mason at Harmony Lodge No. 371.6 He was a clerk and storekeeper at the Ross River Meatworks in 1940 at the Townsville suburb of Ross Plains.6
John died on 18 February 1942 at Ross River, in Townsville, Queensland, at age 46 Whilst riding his bike, his toe clipped a bridge, causing him to fall into the flooded river. His body was recovered downstream several hours later. However, bystanders report that something hit him before he fell..1
John had the circumstances of his death recorded: on 19 February 1942:
He was buried on 21 February 1942 at at Townsville Cemetery in the Townsville suburb of Belgian Gardens, Queensland.1
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John Laurence LeClare Nicholson was born on 31 January 1896 at Winton, Queensland.1 He was the son of Daniel Malcolm McBean Nicholson and Catherine Ann O'Reilly.1 John Laurence LeClare Nicholson was also known as Jack.2
His mother died June 1902 at the age of 39. John was aged 6 when this happened. After their mother died, their father apparently didn't help raise the children; they were fostered or looked after by family and friends in the Winton and Kyuna district. There is some suggestion that their grandmother never acknowledged her grandchildren, yet according to the birth certificates she assisted with at least some of the births..3 John was listed on the roll as a student at Winton State Primary School, in Winton, Queensland, in 1904.4
He learned bookkeeping at Scott's College.4
John Laurence LeClare Nicholson married Amy Gill, daughter of George James Gill and Harriett Ann Ford, on Saturday, 27 February 1915 at Kuridala, Queensland. They were 19 and 16 respectively.1 John Laurence LeClare Nicholson was a clerk in May 1915.5 He was a clerk circa 1921 at Kuridala, Queensland.6 He was a bookkeeper for Burns Phillip in 1922.4 He was a bookkeeper for Holliman's hardware store in 1925.4 He was a clerk for Ross River Meat Works. In the off season he would work as acattle buyer by phone in 1929 at Townsville, Queensland.4
John and Amy bought 5 acres of land at Arcaciavale (now Aitkenvale) in Townsville. they kept cows and raised chickens and a couple of geese, the eggs of which John and his sons would sell door to door. John bought his son Laurence a horse for his help.6 John lived in 1934 at at Wellington Street in the Townsville suburb of Acaciavale.6 He was a mason at Harmony Lodge No. 371.6 He was a clerk and storekeeper at the Ross River Meatworks in 1940 at the Townsville suburb of Ross Plains.6
John died on 18 February 1942 at Ross River, in Townsville, Queensland, at age 46 Whilst riding his bike, his toe clipped a bridge, causing him to fall into the flooded river. His body was recovered downstream several hours later. However, bystanders report that something hit him before he fell..1
John had the circumstances of his death recorded: on 19 February 1942:
ROSS RIVER DROWNING
Heroic Attempts at Rescue
Despite heroic attempts at rescue by Constable Leo Barnes and Corporal Charles Bean, Mr. John L. Nicholson, head storeman of the Ross River Meatworks who drowned in the Ross River on Wednesday morning. Attempts to recover the body, which were made throughout the day, failed. About 8 a.m. on Wednesday, Senior Sergeant J. J. Sproule and Constable Barnes were about to cross the Ross River in a truck from the south, or Meatworks, side, when they saw a man and a bicycle fall over the kerbing into the fast flowing river on the downstream side of the bridge. The river at the time was swollen, being about three feet from the bridge, and the current was exceptionally strong. The police party drove along with all speed until opposite the spot where Mr. Nicholson had disappeared. When they stopped the engine of their motor vehicle, they noticed that he was about thirty yards downstream and struggling against the waters. He was also being carried along by the current. 'I am up hill and handicapped by the cost I am wearing.' shouted the victim of the accident. In reply to directions which were shouted at him by Senior Sergeant Sproule. The Senior Sergeant was advising Nicholson to head ror the southern bank, which was the nearer to him, but it was noticed Mr. Nicholson was being carried down by the strength of the current. Observing the plight in which Nicholson found himself, Constable Barnes immediately divested himself of his clothing and plunged into the fast running stream. Corporal Bean, also appreciating the seriousness of the position, likewise threw off surplus uniform, and ran down the bank of the river from the bridge, hoping to plunge in and head Nicholson off. Both the rescuers were struggling hard with the current, but it was seen that the force of the stream and the distance they were from Nicholson rendered their task almost impossible. While the constable and corporal were making frantic efforts to reach Nicholson, who all the time was being carried from them by the current. It was apparent to Senior Ser geant Sproule from the bridge that the man was getting weaker. When Nicholson had reached a spot about 200 yards downstream from the bridge and near a meatworks shed. Senior-Sergeant Sproule observed that his head went under water and failed to re-appear. In the meantime, the two rescuers had made gallant efforts to reach the victim, he was too far separated from them for them to overtake the current, and although they swam in the vicinity for some time they could not find any trace of the missing man. Later, ten police, wiih the assistance of employees of the meatworks, dragged the spot with grappling irons while a search of either bank was made as far as Hooneys mill. All endeavors to recover the body, however, to a late hour last night had proved futile. The late Jack Nicholson was a foot runner of no mean repute. In his younger days, and for many years had been in the employ of Hollimans Ltd., in the city, prior to taking up a position with the meatworks. He was a highly respected citizen.7
Heroic Attempts at Rescue
Despite heroic attempts at rescue by Constable Leo Barnes and Corporal Charles Bean, Mr. John L. Nicholson, head storeman of the Ross River Meatworks who drowned in the Ross River on Wednesday morning. Attempts to recover the body, which were made throughout the day, failed. About 8 a.m. on Wednesday, Senior Sergeant J. J. Sproule and Constable Barnes were about to cross the Ross River in a truck from the south, or Meatworks, side, when they saw a man and a bicycle fall over the kerbing into the fast flowing river on the downstream side of the bridge. The river at the time was swollen, being about three feet from the bridge, and the current was exceptionally strong. The police party drove along with all speed until opposite the spot where Mr. Nicholson had disappeared. When they stopped the engine of their motor vehicle, they noticed that he was about thirty yards downstream and struggling against the waters. He was also being carried along by the current. 'I am up hill and handicapped by the cost I am wearing.' shouted the victim of the accident. In reply to directions which were shouted at him by Senior Sergeant Sproule. The Senior Sergeant was advising Nicholson to head ror the southern bank, which was the nearer to him, but it was noticed Mr. Nicholson was being carried down by the strength of the current. Observing the plight in which Nicholson found himself, Constable Barnes immediately divested himself of his clothing and plunged into the fast running stream. Corporal Bean, also appreciating the seriousness of the position, likewise threw off surplus uniform, and ran down the bank of the river from the bridge, hoping to plunge in and head Nicholson off. Both the rescuers were struggling hard with the current, but it was seen that the force of the stream and the distance they were from Nicholson rendered their task almost impossible. While the constable and corporal were making frantic efforts to reach Nicholson, who all the time was being carried from them by the current. It was apparent to Senior Ser geant Sproule from the bridge that the man was getting weaker. When Nicholson had reached a spot about 200 yards downstream from the bridge and near a meatworks shed. Senior-Sergeant Sproule observed that his head went under water and failed to re-appear. In the meantime, the two rescuers had made gallant efforts to reach the victim, he was too far separated from them for them to overtake the current, and although they swam in the vicinity for some time they could not find any trace of the missing man. Later, ten police, wiih the assistance of employees of the meatworks, dragged the spot with grappling irons while a search of either bank was made as far as Hooneys mill. All endeavors to recover the body, however, to a late hour last night had proved futile. The late Jack Nicholson was a foot runner of no mean repute. In his younger days, and for many years had been in the employ of Hollimans Ltd., in the city, prior to taking up a position with the meatworks. He was a highly respected citizen.7
He was buried on 21 February 1942 at at Townsville Cemetery in the Townsville suburb of Belgian Gardens, Queensland.1
Family | Amy Gill (24 Feb 1899-28 May 1981) |
| Children |
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Citations
- [S452] Private Nicholson Source, Genealogical Notes, unknown date p.40.
- [S290] Queensland, Death Certificate, Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages 1921 No.4069 or 11163.
- [S452] Private Nicholson Source, Genealogical Notes, unknown date p.20.
- [S586] Private Nicholson Source, Genealogical Notes, January 2013 p.55.
- [S288] Queensland, Birth Certificate, Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages 1915 No.4731.
- [S586] Private Nicholson Source, Genealogical Notes, January 2013 p.56.
- [S547] The Townsville Daily Bulletin, Townsville, Queensland, Australia, 1942 'ROSS RIVER DROWNING.', Townsville Daily Bulletin (Qld. : 1885 - 1954), 19 February, p. 4, viewed 30 March, 2013, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article63554611