Hubert Nicholson

#18, (16 December 1909-9 March 1968)
FatherCharles Leigh Clare Nicholson (May 1872-16 Feb 1930)
MotherLouise Augusta Fookes (9 Apr 1880-21 Jul 1959)
ChartsNicholson Family 2 - descendants
Oaten Family - descendants
Barbara Nicholson - ancestors
Descendents of Donald Nicholson
Last Edited23 Sep 2022
WikiTree ID:https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Nicholson-2477.

Short Biography

     Hubert was born in 1909 in Queenstown, Tasmania and was also known to the family as Boy or Nick (a shortening of his surname).

His family moved to Victoria when he was young; they lived in St. Kilda until he was in his early teens then Glenferrie in 1925.

When his father died 1930, he lived with his mother and likely his younger brother Brandon and began work as a mechanic. He later was a radio engineer, a fitter and a teacher at RMIT.

'Boy' Nicholson and Mavis 'Micky' Oaten met each other at about this time: Mavis and Hubert's sister Jeanne both worked at the Coles Department Store in Glenferrie Road. Jeanne invited Mavis home to their house in Coppin Grove, and it started there. Hubert's teenage brother Bon was also attracted to Mavis, but it was the older Hubert who won out.

He married Mavis Lily Oaten, a designer, at All Saints in 1934 in Kooyong. He was 24 and his wife Mavis was 20. Mavis married with the consent of her mother. They went on to have some eight children together, only two of whom reached adulthood. He was working as a radio engineer.

Hubert and Mavis lived in 1936 in Auburn. They were to stay there for about the next two years, likely living with his mother.

Hubert was a major with with the Royal Australian Signals Corps in the Second World War. He apparently was involved in the atomic tests at Maralinga in some capacity, as well other scientific projects, and described himself as a soldier and a teacher for the next decade.

After the war, Hubert was posted to England and they lived circa 1948 in Great Bookham, Surrey, remaining for 3 years.

Hubert was a church warden at Hawthorn and member of the diocese. His service is commemorated with a plaque at the church.

Hubert died in 1968 in Hawthorn East aged 58. His body was cremated in Springvale Crematorium.
Hubert Nicholson c1935
     (For a brief history and context on the Nicholson family see this page)

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.
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Hubert was born on Thursday, 16 December 1909 at Queenstown, Tasmania.1 His long name was Hubert Evelyn Leigh Arncliffe Donald St.Aldwyn Nicholson. Hubert Nicholson was also known to the family as Boy or Nick (a shortening of his surname.) He was the son of Charles Leigh Clare Nicholson and Louise Augusta Fookes. The Nicholson family posed for a photograph c1910.
The Nicholson family posed for a photograph c1910 (George Gibb Nicholson, Marguerite Danuser, Hubert Nicholson, Lily Euphemia Eveline Nicholson, Marguerite Nicholson, Euphemia Scott Gibb, Donald Nicholson, Charles Leigh Clare Nicholson, Lousie Augusta Fooks)
(source: B. L. Nicholson)
Some of the extended family posed for a photograph in Queenstown, Tasmania, circa 1915.
The extended family posed for a photograph c1915 ('Boy' Nicholson and his mother Louise Augusta Fooks, Albert Fooks, 'Boy's sister Jeanne Nicholson, Vernon Ashcroft and his mother Coralie Fooks)
(source: Julian Hawley)
He presumably lived with his parents at at 24 Acland Street in the Melbourne suburb of St. Kilda in 1917.2 He presumably lived with his parents at at 20 Dryden Street in the Melbourne suburb of St. Kilda in 1919.3 He presumably lived with his parents at at 5 Clarke Street in the Melbourne suburb of St. Kilda in 1922. Also living in the house was a Donald Nicholson - perhaps his father or brother.4 He presumably lived with his parents at at 177 Glenferrie Road in the Melbourne suburb of Glenferrie in 1925.5

His father died 1930. He was a mechanic in 1931.6 He lived with his mother and likely his younger brother Brandon in 1931 at at 51 Haines Street in the Melbourne suburb of Glenferrie.6 'Boy' Nicholson and Mavis 'Micky' Oaten met when Mavis and Hubert's sister Jeanne both worked at the Coles Department Store in Glenferrie Road. Jeanne invited Mavis home to their house in Coppin Grove, and it started there. Hubert's teenage brother Bon was also attracted to Mavis, but it was the older Hubert who won out.7 Hubert lived in February 1934 at at 97 Illawarra Road in the Melbourne suburb of Auburn.8 He was a radio engineer in February 1934.8
Mickey and Boy's signatures from their wedding


He married Mavis Lily Oaten, a designer, daughter of Albert Edward Oaten and Violet Barbara Cheyne, in a Church of England ceremony at All Saints on Saturday, 17 February 1934 at the Melbourne suburb of Kooyong. He was 24 and his wife Mavis was 20. Mavis married with the consent of her mother.. Others who are likely to have attended the wedding include Violet Barbara Cheyne as mother of the bride and Louise Augusta Fookes as mother of the groom as both their fathers had died. Brothers and sisters who may have attended include Violet Agnette Oaten, Charles Henry Oaten, Jeanne Marie Louise Augusta Nicholson and Brandon Murray Scott Nicholson. Aunts, uncles and grandparents who may have attended include Charles Henry Oaten, Albert Henry Fooks, Winifred Amelia Oaten, Alice Eleanor Mary Oaten, Margaret Mary Oaten, Henry William Oaten, Charles Henry Oaten, Lydia Amelia Oaten, Lily Hawthorne Cheyne and Daisy Agnnete Cheyne. They went on to have some eight children together, only two of whom reached adulthood.8,9

Hubert and Mavis Lily Oaten became the parents of Leigh Donald Nicholson in 1934 at Victoria.10

It was through his association with Hubert Nicholson that John Daryl Canning Tanner became a Christian.11 Hubert Nicholson was a fitter in 1936.12 Hubert and Mavis lived in 1936 at Auburn. They were to stay there for about the next two years.13

After their marriage, Hubert and Mavis moved in with his mother in at 2 Coppin Grove in the Melbourne suburb of Hawthorn.7 Mavis's health was so poor in the years after the birth of Barbara that Barbara went to live with her Aunt Vi in Hawthorn, only returning to her parents when her brother Graham was born five years after her.14 Hubert was a major with with the Royal Australian Signals Corps in the Second World War. He apparently was involved in the atomic tests at Maralinga in some capacity, as well other scientific projects, and described himself as a soldier and a teacher for the next decade. Mavis and Hubert had a number of other children between 1935 and 1941 but all of them except Barbara died young. There is some speculation that this is because they had congenital birth defects due to their parent's incompatible blood types that resulted in clotted blood (Margaret), being born with half a bowel and septisemia.7 He was a teacher perhaps of Electrical and Radio engineering in 1942 at Melbourne Tech, in Melbourne.15,7
Boy and Mickey
Source: family collection, restored by GFPGAN technology
https://app.baseten.co/
Hubert and Mavis lived in 1942 at Hawthorn. They stayed there until they went overseas; on their return at the end of the decade they went back to Coppin Grove.15,16

Christmas for the extended family would take place at a different house each year, with each family bringing meals to contribute to the affair. There would be sing-a-longs of Christmas Carols and a big traditional roast of ham and turkey.17
Christ Church Hawthorn
Source:
City of Boorondara Local History Wiki)


In 1947 Hubert's work took him to England, and the family spent three years there.14 Hubert and Mavis lived circa 1948 at Great Bookham, Surrey. They remained there for three years in the late 1940's.7 He presumably lived with his spouse Mavis at The Lodge Sole Farm House Church Road, in Great Bookham, Surrey, in 1948.18 Hubert Nicholson and Mavis Lily Oaten departed from England on 5 January 1950 on the Strathnaver They were returning home from Hubert's posting to England. Travelling with them were their children, Barbara and Graham. They reached Australia on 1st February 1950.19,20 Whilst in England, Hubert had been working for the Australian Army, and gave his address (perhaps a working address) as 85 Jermyn Street London.19 He and Mavis Lily Oaten arrived in Fremantle, Western Australia, on 1 February 1950 with their children Barbara and Graham.21
A plaque commemorating Hubert's contribution to Christ Church Hawthorn
Source: Tim Hill


His mother died 1959. Hubert and Mavis lived in July 1959 at at 20 Bluff street in the Melbourne suburb of Hawthorn East.22 Hubert was a church warden at at Christ Church in the Melbourne suburb of Hawthorn and member of the diocese. His service is commemorated with a plaque at the church.23
Graham with his parents at church
Source: family collection, restored by GFPGAN technology
https://app.baseten.co/




Hubert died on 9 March 1968 at at 20 Bluff Street in the Melbourne suburb of Hawthorn East at age 58 of coronary occlusion after months of arterial sclerosis.24 His body was cremated at Springvale Crematorium on 12 March 1968 at the Melbourne suburb of Springvale. His daughter Barbara, then living in Alice Springs, flew down for the funeral..24 His has a memorial at at Hawthorn located on the wall of the church at the rear.25

His will was probated on 4 July 1968.26

Timeline

DateEventPlace
Family
Family
1909BirthQueenstown, Tasmania1
1910Name-Long
Name-Family
1931Occupation6
1932Anecdote7
1934Residence at 97 Illawarra Road in the Melbourne suburb of Auburn8
1934Occupation8
1934Marriage at All Saints in the Melbourne suburb of Kooyong8,9
Note memo only CR CR11
Occupation-hide27
1936Occupation12
1936Residence-hideAuburn13
1936ResidenceAuburn13
1937Occupation-hide28
1937Residence-hideAuburn27
Anecdote at 2 Coppin Grove in the Melbourne suburb of Hawthorn7
Anecdote14
Military
Anecdote7
1942OccupationMelbourne Tech, in Melbourne15,7
1942ResidenceHawthorn15,16
Note memo only CR CR17
1947Note memo only CR CR14
1948ResidenceGreat Bookham, Surrey7
1949Occupation-hide29
1949Residence-hideHawthorn29
1950Passngr-departEngland19,20
1950Note memo only19
1950Passngr-arriveFremantle, Western Australia21
1950Residence-hideHawthorn21
1954Occupation-hide30
1954Residence-hideHawthorn30
1959Residence at 20 Bluff street in the Melbourne suburb of Hawthorn East22
Note memo only at Christ Church in the Melbourne suburb of Hawthorn23
1968Residence-hideHawthorn East
1968Death at 20 Bluff Street in the Melbourne suburb of Hawthorn East24
1968Cremation at Springvale Crematorium in the Melbourne suburb of Springvale24
Burial-memorialHawthorn25
1968Probate-new26

Family

Mavis Lily Oaten (1 May 1913-21 Oct 1990)
Children

Citations

  1. [S261] Tasmania, Birth Certificate, Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages 1910 No.1271.
  2. [S483] Australia - Electoral Rolls 1900-1980 - Ancestry.com, Electorate of Balaclava, Subdivision of St. Kilda West.
  3. [S483] Australia - Electoral Rolls 1900-1980 - Ancestry.com, Electorate of Balaclava, Subdivision of Balaclava.
  4. [S483] Australia - Electoral Rolls 1900-1980 - Ancestry.com, Electorate of Balaclava, Subdivision of St. Kilda central.
  5. [S483] Australia - Electoral Rolls 1900-1980 - Ancestry.com, Electorate of Kooyong, Subdivision of Glenferrie.
  6. [S483] Australia - Electoral Rolls 1900-1980 - Ancestry.com, Electorate of Kooyong, Subdivision of Glenferrie 1931 p.81-82 (http://search.ancestry.com.au/iexec).
  7. [S602] Barbara Nicholson,.
  8. [S264] Victoria, Marriage Certificate, Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages 1934 No.536.
  9. [S266] Mavis Nicholson (nee Oaten), Windsor.
  10. [S466] Find a Grave (http://www.findagrave.com) Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/148384131/… : accessed 31 March 2022), memorial page for Leigh Donald Nicholson (1934–3 Sep 1934), Find a Grave Memorial ID 148384131, citing Springvale Botanical Cemetery, Springvale, Greater Dandenong City, Victoria, Australia ; Maintained by Donald L Reid (contributor 48130349) .
  11. [S1234] Barbara Nicholson, 27th August 2022.
  12. [S483] Australia - Electoral Rolls 1900-1980 - Ancestry.com, Electorate of Kooyong, Subdivision of Auburn 1936 p.129-130 (http://search.ancestry.com.au/Browse/view.aspx).
  13. [S483] Australia - Electoral Rolls 1900-1980 - Ancestry.com, Electorate of Kooyong, Subdivision of Auburn 1936 p.129-130 (http://search.ancestry.com.au/iexec).
  14. [S1234] Barbara Nicholson, August 2012.
  15. [S483] Australia - Electoral Rolls 1900-1980 - Ancestry.com, Electorate of Yarra, Subdivision of Hawthorn 1942 p.167-168 (http://search.ancestry.com.au/iexec).
  16. [S1070] E-mails from Carolyn Nicholson to Tim Hill, 2019- 'ThoseBefore.com - Louise Augusta Fooks' - 8 Feb 2019, 16:15.
  17. [S1234] Barbara Nicholson, 19 Dec 2020.
  18. [S819] Surry History Centre, Surrey, England, Electoral Registers, 1832-1962 Epsom 1948.
  19. [S658] UK Outward Passenger Lists, 1890-1960 Ancestry.com, Departure Date: 5 Jan 1950; Port of Departure: London, England; Destination Port: Melbourne, Australia; Ship Name: Strathnaver; Shipping line: P and O; Official Number: 162619; Master: J C Mellonie.
  20. [S1083] Freemantle, Western Australia, Passenger Lists, 1897-1963 Ancestry.com, Departure Place: London, United Kingdom; Arrival Date: 1 Feb 1950; Arrival Place: Fremantle, Western Australia, Australia; Vessel: Strathnaver.
  21. [S1083] Freemantle, Western Australia, Passenger Lists, 1897-1963 Ancestry.com, Name: Barbara Louise Nicholson; Departure Place: London, United Kingdom; Arrival Date: 1 Feb 1950; Arrival Place: Fremantle, Western Australia, Australia; Vessel: Strathnaver.
  22. [S265] Victoria, Death Certificate, Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages 1959 No.9295.
  23. [S1070] E-mails from Carolyn Nicholson to Tim Hill, 2019- 'ThoseBefore.com - Hubert Nicholson' - 8 Feb 2019, 16:21.
  24. [S265] Victoria, Death Certificate, Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages 1968 No.5713.
  25. [S466] Find a Grave (http://www.findagrave.com) Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/148379838/… : accessed 31 March 2022), memorial page for Hubert Evelyn Leigh Arncliffe Donald St Aldwyn “Boy” Nicholson (16 Dec 1909–9 Mar 1968), Find a Grave Memorial ID 148379838, citing Christ Church Grounds, Hawthorn, Boroondara City, Victoria, Australia ; Maintained by Donald L Reid (contributor 48130349) .
  26. [S269] Victoria, Probate, Name: Hubert E Nicholson; Death Date: 9 Mar 1968; Death Place: est Hawthorn; Occupation: Military Officer; Grant Date: 4 Jul 1968; Grant: A.
  27. [S265] Victoria, Death Certificate, Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages 1935 No.6111.
  28. [S483] Australia - Electoral Rolls 1900-1980 - Ancestry.com, Electorate of Yarra, Subdivision of Hawthorn 1937p.174 (http://search.ancestry.com.au/Browse/view.aspx).
  29. [S483] Australia - Electoral Rolls 1900-1980 - Ancestry.com, Electorate of Yarra, Subdivision of Hawthorn 1949 p.188 (http://search.ancestry.com.au/iexec).
  30. [S483] Australia - Electoral Rolls 1900-1980 - Ancestry.com, Electorate of Yarra, Subdivision of Hawthorn 1954 p.159 (http://search.ancestry.com.au/iexec).
  31. [S265] Victoria, Death Certificate, Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages 1934 No.7663.
  32. [S265] Victoria, Death Certificate, Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages 1941 No.4966.