Albert was born circa 1898 at Saltney, Cheshire the 1st son of William & Alice NICHOLAS (nee PALIN), who, I believe, had been married in St. Mary’s Church, Tilston, Cheshire in 1891. (Cheshire West CE48/1/194)

Albert first appears on the 1901 census living with his family at 7, St. Mark’s Terrace, Saltney (St. Mary’s Ward), with his parents, William, 41 a Railway Clerk and who, with his family, with the exception of his wife, been born in Saltney, Cheshire Alice, 38, Albert’s mother, had been born in Carden, Cheshire which is very close to Tilston. Winifred,4, Albert, 3 and baby William, 1 made up the family. There was a Boarder, a School Mistress, Annie STORMONT, age 31 and single, who had been born in Aston, Cheshire.

The 1911 census sees that the family had moved to 9, St. David’s Terrace, Stonebridge, Flintshire (7 Rooms). William, 51, was still a Railway Clerk and tells us that he had been married to Alice for 19 years, Alice, 48, tells us that she had given birth to 5 children, 1 of whom, sadly, had died. Winifred, 14 was now an Apprentice Milliner, Albert, 13 & William, 11 were both Scholars, as was Dorothy, age 9.

Albert Enlisted on the at Chester, 8th December 1915 and his Attestation papers tell us he was age 18 years and 1 month, his address was 45, St. Mark’s Terrace, Saltney, Chester, and he was a Clerk. He was Mobilized on the 4th August 1916

Next Paper in his Attestation papers – (No heading)
Regt. No. 5364 Name Albert NICHOLAS
Business Address – Henry WOOD & Co. Ltd., Saltney, Chester.
Occupation – Clerk
Place of Birth – Saltney, Chester.
Parish – St. Mark, Saltney, Chester.
Town & County, Chester, Cheshire., so we know which company he worked for before he enlisted

Next paper – Medical History of NICHOLAS, Albert
Birthplace – Saltney, Chester.
Examined 3rd December 1915 at Chester.
Decarted age – 18 years 1 month
Trade – Clerk.
Height – 5 ft 6 inches.
Weight – 119lbs
Chest Measurement – Girth when fully expanded 34 inches – Range of expansion – 2 and ½ inches.
Vision Right & Left 6/6
Marks indicating congenital peculiarities or previous disease – Several Carious Teeth
Fit for A. Service.
3rd December 1915 at Chester.

Descriptive Report on Enlistment of Albert – 5364, Regiment Cheshire Regiment:-
Name – Albert Nicholas
Apparent age 18 years 1 month
Height – 5 ft 6 inches
Chest Measurement – Girth when fully expanded – Range of expansion – 2 inches.
Name and address of next-of-kin – William NICHOLAS, 45, St. Mark’s Terrace, Saltney, Chester. – Relationship – Father.
Campaigns – France 1916, 1917
Wounded – G.S.W. Thigh – 23rd September 1917

There were Duplicates of the some papers above, and on the 2nd one, the name and address of the next-of-kin was changed from William to Alice and Father to Mother., otherwise the papers were the same., just duplicated:-

Name and address of next-of-kin – William Alice NICHOLAS, 45, St. Mark’s Terrace, Saltney, Chester. – Relationship – Father.Mother

Likewise with the papers asking for the details of the famil:-
Next Paper – Statement of the Names & Addresses of all the Relatives of the above-named deceased Soldier in each of the degrees specified below that are now liiving.
50147 Pte. Albert NICHOLAS
Father of the Soldier – William NICHOLAS 45, St. Mark’s Road, Saltney, Chester.
Mother of the Soldier – Alice NICHOLAS. 45, St. Mark’s Road, Saltney, Chester.
Full Blood Brothers of the Soldier – William NICHOLAS 20, 45, St. Mark’s Road, Saltney, Chester.
No Half Blood brothers.
Full Blood Sisters of the Soldier – Winifred BEDDOW,23, 8, Ellis St., Sevenoaks, Cheshire
Dorothy NICHOLAS, 18, 45, St. Mark’s Rd., Saltney, Chester.
No Half Blood Sisters
Declaration was signed at Saltney Ferry by Alice NICHOLAS, Mother, 45, St. Mark’s Road, Saltney, Chester on the 7th day of May 1920 and witnessed by E.L. ROBERTS, Minister of Religion, Saltney Ferry,

Duplicate of above “Statement of the Names & Addresses of all the Relatives of the above-named deceased Soldier in each of the degrees specified below that are now liiving,” 50147 Pte. Albert NICHOLAS and Winifred’s address given as 45, St. Mark’s Road, Saltney, her age as 24, Dorothy now 19, the Declaration again signed by Alice and witnessed by E.L. ROBERTS, Minister of Religion, Saltney Ferry, signed on the 8th October 1920.

There is a Casualty form that states that Albert had bouts of I.C.T, both in his leg and foot at different times, and not knowing what this was I asked the Amy Forum this was a reply:-
http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?/topic/241252-casualty-form/#comment-2423265
charlie2 said:
Inflammation of the Connective Tissue. The medical history of the great war explains that I.C.T. was a general term for suppurating skin diseases (Pyodermia), caused mainly due to parasitic disease, but did not include scabies.

Albert also had scabies, bless him and also on this form was “Boulogne – To England G.S.W. Thigh ex.22 G.H? per “Ville de Liege” 29th September 1917.”

Also another Casualty Form – Next Paper – County of Middlesex War Hospital, ??? St. Albans. Admitted to Hospital – 23rd September 1917. Discharged from Hospital – 17th October 1917 Shell W.R. Thigh. – No. of days in Hospital 25 days.
Admitted to Hospital 17th October 1917 – Discharged from Hospital – 20th November 1917 Shell W.R. Thigh – 34 days.

So Albert had been through the mill in his short life and when he landed in France on the 4th April, 1918, he was to become another statistic, as he was Missing, presumed for official purposes to have died since or on the 31st May 1918 – 8 weeks later.

Albert Nicholas in the UK, Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919 confirms his regimental details above and tells us Next Paper in his Attestation papers – (No heading)
Regt. No. 5364 Name Albert NICHOLAS
Business Address – Henry WOOD & Co. Ltd., Saltney, Chester.
Occupation – Clerk
Place of Birth – Saltney, Chester.
Parish – St. Mark, Saltney, Chester.
Town & County, Chester, Cheshire., so we know which company he worked for before he enlisted

Next paper – Medical History of NICHOLAS, Albert
Birthplace – Saltney, Chester.
Examined 3rd December 1915 at Chester.
Decarted age – 18 years 1 month
Trade – Clerk.
Height – 5 ft 6 inches.
Weight – 119lbs
Chest Measurement – Girth when fully expanded 34 inches – Range of expansion – 2 and ½ inches.
Vision Right & Left 6/6
Marks indicating congenital peculiarities or previous disease – Several Carious Teeth
Fit for A. Service.
3rd December 1915 at Chester.

Descriptive Report on Enlistment of Albert – 5364, Regiment Cheshire Regiment:-
Name – Albert Nicholas
Apparent age 18 years 1 month
Height – 5 ft 6 inches
Chest Measurement – Girth when fully expanded – Range of expansion – 2 inches.
Name and address of next-of-kin – William NICHOLAS, 45, St. Mark’s Terrace, Saltney, Chester. – Relationship – Father.
Campaigns – France 1916, 1917
Wounded – G.S.W. Thigh – 23rd September 1917

Duplicate of above “Statement of the Names & Addresses of all the Relatives of the above-named deceased Soldier in each of the degrees specified below that are now liiving,” 50147 Pte. Albert NICHOLAS and Winifred’s address given as 45, St. Mark’s Road, Saltney, her age as 24, Dorothy now 19, the Declaration again signed by Alice and witnessed by E.L. ROBERTS, Minister of Religion, Saltney Ferry, signed on the 8th October 1920.

There is a Casualty form that states that Albert had bouts of I.C.T, both in his leg and foot at different times, and not knowing what this was I asked the Amy Forum this was a reply:-http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?/topic/241252-casualty-form/#comment-2423265            charlie2 said: – Inflammation of the Connective Tissue. The medical history of the great war explains that I.C.T. was a general term for suppurating skin diseases (Pyodermia), caused mainly due to parasitic disease, but did not include scabies.

Albert also had scabies, bless him and also on this form was “Boulogne – To England G.S.W. Thigh ex.22 G.H? per “Ville de Liege” 29th September 1917.”

Also another Casualty Form – Next Paper – County of Middlesex War Hospital, ??? St. Albans.  Admitted to Hospital – 23rd September 1917.   Discharged from Hospital – 17th October 1917 Shell W.R. Thigh. – No. of days in Hospital 25 days.

Admitted to Hospital 17th October 1917 – Discharged from Hospital – 20th November 1917 Shell W.R. Thigh – 34 days.

So Albert had been through the mill in his short life and when he landed in France on the 4th April, 1918, he was to become another statistic, as he was Missing, presumed for official purposes to have died since or on the 31st May 1918 – 8 weeks later.

Albert Nicholas in the UK, Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919 confirms his regimental details above and tells us his Regimental Number change and that he was born in Saltney, Cheshire.

Albert Nicholas in the UK, Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, 1901-1929 tells us his death was presumed on the 31st May, 1918 and that the Sole Legatee was his father William, who received £15 14s 9d on the 30th April 1920 which included  his War Gratuity of £10.

I cannot find a Medal Card for Albert but the Albert Nicholas in the UK, WWI Service Medal and Award Rolls, 1914-1920 tells us he was awarded the Victory & British War Medals.