Private. 2nd Battalion, Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment. Regimental number 10683.
Early life:
Oscar Nixon’s parents were Cornelius Nixon and Julia Nixon née Lynch. They had been married at Wetherby in the last quarter of 1882.
In the 1891 census they were living at 42, Boston Lane at the village of Clifford Cum Boston, which is about three miles to the South of Wetherby. Cornelius was aged 41 and a Farm Labourer whilst Julia was 29, an aged difference of 12 years. Their children were Mary Ann aged six, Emily aged three and both were attending school. Also living with them was 60 year old Bridget Lynch, Julia’s widowed mother and Bridget Shilston aged 43, a boarder.
They were likely to be still living there when Oscar was born in late 1892, with his birth being registered at Wetherby in the last quarter of that year.
By the time of the 1901 census they had moved to Oakworth and were living at Clough House, a farm house just to the South of Mill Lane and one of the oldest houses in the village. Cornelius was now aged 46 (he was probably aged 51) and employed as a worsted yarn finisher. Julia was 39 and looking after the home. Their children were Mary Ann now aged 16 and Emily aged 13, both were worsted spinners. Oscar was nine, Elizabeth was six and Sarah was four, they would all have been attending school.
Ten years later in the 1911 census Oscar was aged 19 and lining with his parents and siblings at 10, Mill Lane, a short walk to work at Oakworth Mill. Cornelius was 57 and a yarn scourer, Julia was aged 54 and at home. Oscar was aged 19 and a wool washer; Elizabeth was aged 16 and a worsted spinner; Sarah was 14 and a worsted spinner; Clifford was ten and probably at school. Also visiting on the day of the census was John Lynch aged 58, a flax dresser and probably Julia’s brother.
There is no mention of Mary Ann but at this time she would be aged 26 and was married to Thomas Morris of Barrow in Furness.
Emily would be aged 23 and had married Joseph Whitaker of Denholme and they were living there in 1911. Joseph was killed in the war and they’d had a son, also named Joseph.
According to the census form, Cornelius and Julia had been married for 20 years and had four children, all of whom were still alive. The length of marriage is correct but the number of children born should be six, but they may have thought the census was asking for the children who were living with them on the census date.
The family moved to Well Street in Denholme in 1912, with the electoral rolls showing a ‘successive’ dwelling move from Mill lane in Oakworth in that year.
Pre-war service:
There are sadly no Army service records for Oscar but the newspaper obituary of 29th May 1915 gives us some details of his life and Army service.
He joined the Territorial Army some time around it’s inception in 1908, serving with the Haworth Territorial unit from the age of sixteen. He enlisted in the West Yorkshire Regiment* in August 1913.
*more likely the West Riding Regiment.
War service:
Oscar was mobilised in August 1914 and went out to France, arriving there on 24th November 1914 with the 2nd Battalion, West Riding Regiment.
Oscar was apparently buried in debris, probably from a shell explosion, but was dug out by his comrades and survived to tell the tale.
He was also part of a bayonet charge at Hill 60.
The newspaper also reports that he was the first soldier from Denholme to die in the war.
Oscar was killed in action during a gas attack on 5th of May 1915. He may have been buried but the grave position is not known and he is remembered on the Menin Gate war memorial to the missing at Ypres.
WO-95/1552/1. War diary:
2nd Battalion West Riding Regiment. May 1915.
1st May:
In Divisional Reserve in woods near KRUISSTRAAT. 2nd Lieutenant GUNN joined Battalion 2nd Lieutenant BEYFUS and SIMPSON rejoined.
2nd May:
In Divisional Reserve in woods near KRUISSTRAAT. Casualties 3 wounded. Draft of 280 other ranks joined Battalion.
3rd May:
In Divisional Reserve in woods near KRUISSTRAAT.
4th May:
In Divisional Reserve in woods near KRUISSTRAAT.
At 10 pm, Battalion received orders to relieve Devonshire Regiment in Trenches 38, 39, 40, 42, 43 45 and HILL 60. Relief completed by 3 30am May 5th 1915.
Distribution in trenches:
A Company – 42 (s) and the Dump.
B Company – 40 Fire and 40 Support.
C Company – Hill 60, 43 and 45.
D Company – 38 and 39.
In the Trenches.
5th May:
At 8.0 am the enemy sent over asphyxiation gas, with disastrous effects. The Battalion had to vacate HILL 60 and Trenches 40, 43, 45. on account of there being practically no men left to hold them. Trenches 38 and 39 were held and eventually strongly reinforced by the Dorsetshire Regiment of who eventually reoccupied 40 Trench. Nearly all the men were very badly asphyxiated and large numbers died from the effect. During the day the enemy kept up heavy artillery fire. No more gas fumes were used. In the evening the Royal West Kent Regiment attacked without success. At about 2.30 am The Battalion, consisting of three officers (Captain Barton Commanding, Lieutenant Ince, and Lieutenant Titlar) with about 150 other ranks was ordered to withdraw to OUDERDOM, being relieved by the Cheshire Regiment.
Ouderdom.
6th May:
Battalion arrived in huts at 5:30 am.
Keighley News Saturday 29th May 1915, page8:
THE KEIGHLEY NEWS
SATURDAY. MAY 29 1915. DENHOLME.
DENHOLME SOLDIER’S DEATH. Mr. and Mrs. Cornelius Nixon, of Commercial Street, Denholme, have received notification from the War Office that their eldest son, Private Oscar Nixon, of the West Yorkshire Regiment, died from the effects of gas poison on the 5th instant. Private Nixon was 23 years of age, and came to Denholme with his parents from Oakworth four years ago. Prior to joining the Regular Army he was a member of the Haworth Territorials from 16 years of age. He enlisted in the West Yorkshire Regiment in August, 1913, and went out to France in November last. One of his first experiences was to be buried in debris, but he was dug out little the worse for his experience. He went through a bayonet charge at Hill 60. Private Nixon is the first soldier who lived in Denholme to give his life for his country in the present war. He was the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Nixon, who have had twelve* children.
*They actually had six children.
Remembrance:
Oscar is named on panel 20 of the Menin Gate war memorial to the missing at Ypres.
He is also named on the Denholme war memorial.
In Oakworth he is named on the Great War Centenary roll of honour which is on display at Oakworth Community Hall.
Post war:
His medals were the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal and these would have been sent to his next of kin, probably his father Cornelius. He would also have received a bronze memorial plaque and memorial scroll inscribed with his name and any personal effects.
His mother Julia was co-legatee in Oscar’s will with Hannah Robson. They both received Oscar’s remaining Army pay in a payment of £1 8s 7d. Julia received hers on the 11th December 1915.
Hannah Robson received the same amount on 29th July 1919 and this was deducted from the war gratuity payment of £5.
Julia received the balance of £3 11s 5d on 27th June 1919. The discrepancy with dates is probably due to a delay in sorting out the probate.
Julia also applied for a Dependant’s pension around January 1920, but the Pension cards do not specify if she received anything and this section is not filled in.
Cornelius died in 1921 and his death was registered at North Bierley in the first quarter of the year. He was buried on 7th January that year at St. Paul’s churchyard, Denholme. This church is now a private dwelling.
Julia was living at 2, Fletcher Square in Denholme during the 1921 census which was taken on the 19th of June. She was 69 and living with her were her children Elizabeth aged 26, a worsted rover; Sarah aged 24, a worsted twister, Clifford aged 20, a hoist driver and granddaughter Mary Noreen Morris aged 5, who was Mary Ann’s daughter. Mary Ann and Thomas Morris were living at Barrow in Furness along with her widowed sister Emily (now Whitaker) and her son Joseph.
We could not find a death record for Julia Nixon.
Information sources:
England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1837-1915.
1891 England Census.
England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915.
1901 England Census.
1911 England Census.
West Yorkshire, England, Electoral Registers, 1840-1962.
WO-95/1552/1. War diary, 2nd Battalion West Riding Regiment.
Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919.
WWI Service Medal and Award Rolls, 1914-1920.
Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, 1901-1929.
World War I Pension Ledgers and Index Cards, 1914-1923.
England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007.
West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Deaths and Burials, 1813-1985.
1921 England Census.
