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[[Admiral (Royal Navy)|Admiral]] Sir '''William Coldignham Masters Nicholson''', K.C.B. ([[28 October]], [[1863]] – [[9 January]], [[1932]]) was an officer of the [[Royal Navy]].
[[File:William C. M. Nicholson.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Sir William C. M. Nicholson.]]


[[Category:1863 births|Nicholson]]
[[Admiral (Royal Navy)|Admiral]] {{SIR}} '''William Coldingham Masters Nicholson''', K.C.B., Royal Navy (28 October, 1863 – 9 January, 1932) was an officer of the [[Royal Navy]].
[[Category:1932 deaths|Nicholson]]
 
[[Category:Personalities|Nicholson]]
==Early Life & Career==
[[Category:Captains of H.M.S. Canada (1913)|Nicholson]]
Nicholson was the son of a Reverend John Young Nicholson, Rector of Aller, a village near Langport, Somerset.<ref>20191224 Contact email from Janet Seaton, Chair of the Langport & District History Society, citing Nicholson's baptismal record.</ref> 
[[Category:Third Sea Lords|Nicholson]]
 
[[Category:Royal Navy Admirals|Nicholson]]
He passed out of {{UK-1Britannia}} in December 1878.  Following service in {{UK-1Agincourt}}, {{UK-1Dido}}, {{UK-Northampton}} and {{UK-Sultan}}, Nicholson was promoted to the rank of {{LieutRN}} on 21 August, 1885.{{Gaz|25514|4516|25 September, 1885}}
[[Category:Royal Navy Flag Officers|Nicholson]]
 
Nicholson passed as a Torpedo Lieutenant, Second Class, on 22 June, 1888.  He would serve in a variety of appointments that are difficult to discern in his Service Record, including time as torpedo officer in {{UK-Swiftsure}} in mid 1891 &ndash; possibly for the Annual Manoeuvres.  He then returned to an appointment as torpedo officer in {{UK-2Boadicea}}, which had only two ancient Whitehead torpedo carriages, until he was invalided back to England with climatic debility and dyspepsia in April 1894.<ref>Nicholson Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  f. 214.</ref>
 
After recovering from his illness, Nicholson spent a year on the staff at the {{UK-Defiance|f=tp}}.  In mid-January 1896 he was appointed to {{UK-1Revenge}} as first officer and for torpedo duties.  Nicholson remained with ''Revenge'' until he was promoted to the rank of {{CommRN}} on 1 January, 1898.{{Gaz|26924|7854|31 December, 1897}}
 
On 1 December 1904 Nicholson was appointed as Secretary to the Imperial Defence Committee.
 
==Captain==
Nicholson was promoted to the rank of {{CaptRN}} on 30 June, 1905.{{Gaz|27812|4557|30 June, 1905}}
 
He kept up as Secretart to the I.D.C. until he was appointed in command of the new {{UK-1Berwick|f=t}} in January 1908.<ref>Nicholson Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  f. 214.</ref>
 
On 23 November 1908 he was appointed to command the {{UK-1Achilles|f=t}}.  He commanded the ship until being appointed Captain of [[H.M.S. Vernon (Torpedo Training School)|H.M.S. ''Vernon'']] on 1 November 1911,<ref>Nicholson Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  f. 214.</ref> where he would remain for three years. <ref>Blond. ''Technology and Tradition''. p. 167.</ref>
 
==Great War==
[[File:William Nicholson 1916.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Nicholson as Rear-Admiral, 1916.]]
 
He was appointed captain of dreadnought battleship [[H.M.S. Emperor of India (1913)|''Emperor of India'']] on 15 September, 1914.{{NLDec14|p. 311}}
 
Nicholson was appointed captain of {{UK-Canada}} on 30 June, 1915.  He would command her at the [[Battle of Jutland]], operating as part of the {{UK-BS|4}}.  As he reported in [[H.M.S. Canada at the Battle of Jutland|his after-action report]], the ship fired forty-two main battery rounds during the action, and over 100 6-in shells, to uncertain effect.
 
On 10 June 1916, Nicholson was promoted to the rank of {{RearRN}}, vice [[Philip Nelson-Ward|Nelson-Ward]].{{GazSup|29629|6066|20 June, 1916}}  On 15 September he was appointed an Additional Member of the Third Class, or Companion, in the Military Division of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (C.B.) dated 31 May.{{GazSup|29751|9070|15 September, 1916}}
 
He was appointed Rear-Admiral in the {{UK-BS|1}}, hoisting his flag in the [[H.M.S. Emperor of India (1913)|''Emperor of India'']] on 7 December.  His staff was composed of Henry Rogers, Secretary, [[Roden Henry Victor Buxton|Roden H. V. Buxton]], Flag Lieutenant, and Maurice H. Elliot, Clerk to Secretary.{{NLNov17|p. 393''l''}}
 
He was thanked for developing a system for firing through a smoke screen in 1918.  As the war ended, he was being granted periods of leave: first two weeks in early October, and then in December.<ref>Nicholson Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  f. 214.</ref>
 
==Post-War==
Nicholson was appointed an Additional Member of the Second Class, or Knight Commander, in the Military Division of the Order of the Bath (K.C.B.) on 24 March, 1919.{{GazSup|31248|3859|24 March, 1919}}
 
Nicholson was promoted to the rank of {{ViceRN}} on 24 November, 1920, vice [[Stuart Nicholson|Nicholson]].{{Gaz|32154|12054|7 December, 1920}}
 
Nicholson was promoted to the rank of {{AdmRN}} on 1 July, 1925, vice [[Alexander Ludovic Duff|Duff]].{{Gaz|33068|4866|21 July, 1925}}  He was placed on the Retired List at his own request on 14 October.{{Gaz|33093|6693|16 October, 1925}}
 
==Bibliography==
{{refbegin}}
*"Admiral Sir William Nicholson" (Obituaries).  ''The Times''.  Monday, 11 January, 1932.  Issue '''46027''', col A, p. 14.
{{refend}}
 
==Service Records==
{{refbegin}}
*{{TNA|ADM 196/88.|D8115452}}
*{{TNA|ADM 196/42.|D7579053}}
*{{TNA|ADM 196/20.|D7590687}}
{{refend}}
 
<div name=fredbot:appts>{{TabApptsBegin}}
{{TabNaval}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Henry Arthur Phillipps|Henry A. Phillipps]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Antelope (1893)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Antelope'']]'''<br>10 Sep, 1902<ref>Nicholson Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}} f. 214.</ref>{{NLJan04|p. 273}} &ndash; 30 Nov, 1904<ref>Nicholson Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}} f. 214.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Frederic William Dean|Frederic W. Dean]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Lewis Clinton-Baker|Lewis Clinton-Baker]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Berwick (1902)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Berwick'']]'''<br>15 Jan, 1908<ref>Nicholson Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  f. 214.</ref> &ndash; 2 Sep, 1908<ref>Nicholson Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}} f. 214.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Hugh Thomas Hibbert|Hugh T. Hibbert]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Henry Francis Oliver|Henry F. Oliver]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Achilles (1905)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Achilles'']]'''<br>23 Nov, 1908<ref>Nicholson Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  f. 214.</ref>{{NLApr11|p. 272}} &ndash; 18 Apr, 1911<ref>Nicholson Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}} f. 214.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Stanhope Hawke|The Hon. Stanhope Hawke]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Robert Stewart Phipps Hornby|Robert S. P. Hornby]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Vernon (Torpedo Training School)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Vernon'']]'''<br>1 Nov, 1911<ref>Nicholson Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  f. 214.</ref> &ndash; 15 Sep, 1914<ref>Nicholson Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}} f. 214.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Frederick Laurence Field|Frederick L. Field]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''New Command'''|'''[[H.M.S. Emperor of India (1913)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Emperor of India'']]'''<br>15 Sep, 1914<ref>Nicholson Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  f. 214.</ref> &ndash; 9 Jul, 1915<ref>Nicholson Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}} f. 214.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Charles William Rawson Royds|Charles W. R. Royds]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''New Command'''|'''[[H.M.S. Canada (1913)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Canada'']]'''<br>30 Jun, 1915<ref>Nicholson Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  f. 214.</ref>{{NLDec16|p. 392''rr''}} &ndash; 1 Dec, 1916<ref>Nicholson Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}} f. 214.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[James Clement Ley|James C. Ley]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Alexander Ludovic Duff|Alexander L. Duff]]'''|'''[[First Battle Squadron (Royal Navy)|Rear-Admiral in the First Battle Squadron]]'''<br>1 Dec, 1916{{UKCeased|p. 2}} &ndash; 20 Mar, 1919<ref>Nicholson Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}} f. 214.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Victor Albert Stanley|The Hon. Victor A. Stanley]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Charles Martin-de-Bartolomé|Charles Bartolomé]]'''|'''[[Third Sea Lord|Third Sea Lord and Controller of the Navy]]'''<br>1 Jul, 1919<ref>Nicholson Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}} f. 214.</ref> &ndash; 15 Apr, 1920<ref>Nicholson Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/88.}} f. 77.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Frederick Laurence Field|Sir Frederick L. Field]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Arthur Cavenagh Leveson|Sir Arthur C. Leveson]]'''|'''[[Second Battle Squadron (Royal Navy)|Vice-Admiral Commanding, Second Battle Squadron]]'''<br>1 Oct, 1920<ref>Nicholson Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42}}.  f. 194.</ref> &ndash; 3 May, 1921<ref>Nicholson Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/88.}} f. 77.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''William C. M. Nicholson, V.A.C. {{UK-BS|1}}'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Sydney Robert Fremantle|Sir Sydney R. Fremantle]]'''|'''[[First Battle Squadron (Royal Navy)|Vice-Admiral Commanding, First Battle Squadron]]'''<br>3 May, 1921<ref>"Naval and Military" (Official Appointments and Notices).  ''The Times''.  Wednesday, 23 March, 1921.  Issue '''42676''', col D, p. 12.</ref> &ndash; 14 Oct, 1922|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Edwyn Sinclair Alexander-Sinclair, Twelfth Laird of Freswick|Sir Edwyn S. Alexander-Sinclair]]'''}}
{{TabEnd}}
</div name=fredbot:appts>
 
==Footnotes==
{{reflist}}
 
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nicholson, William Coldingham}}
 
{{CatPerson|UK|1863|1932}}
{{CatBritannia|July, 1876}}
{{CatTorpedoOfficer|UK}}
{{CatAdm|UK}}
 
[[Category:Royal Navy Officers Educated at Stubbington House School]]
{{CatRN}}

Latest revision as of 18:55, 27 June 2022

Sir William C. M. Nicholson.

Admiral SIR William Coldingham Masters Nicholson, K.C.B., Royal Navy (28 October, 1863 – 9 January, 1932) was an officer of the Royal Navy.

Early Life & Career

Nicholson was the son of a Reverend John Young Nicholson, Rector of Aller, a village near Langport, Somerset.[1]

He passed out of Britannia in December 1878. Following service in Agincourt, Dido, Northampton and Sultan, Nicholson was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 21 August, 1885.[2]

Nicholson passed as a Torpedo Lieutenant, Second Class, on 22 June, 1888. He would serve in a variety of appointments that are difficult to discern in his Service Record, including time as torpedo officer in Swiftsure in mid 1891 – possibly for the Annual Manoeuvres. He then returned to an appointment as torpedo officer in Boadicea, which had only two ancient Whitehead torpedo carriages, until he was invalided back to England with climatic debility and dyspepsia in April 1894.[3]

After recovering from his illness, Nicholson spent a year on the staff at the torpedo training school H.M.S. Defiance. In mid-January 1896 he was appointed to Revenge as first officer and for torpedo duties. Nicholson remained with Revenge until he was promoted to the rank of Commander on 1 January, 1898.[4]

On 1 December 1904 Nicholson was appointed as Secretary to the Imperial Defence Committee.

Captain

Nicholson was promoted to the rank of Captain on 30 June, 1905.[5]

He kept up as Secretart to the I.D.C. until he was appointed in command of the new armoured cruiser Berwick in January 1908.[6]

On 23 November 1908 he was appointed to command the armoured cruiser Achilles. He commanded the ship until being appointed Captain of H.M.S. Vernon on 1 November 1911,[7] where he would remain for three years. [8]

Great War

Nicholson as Rear-Admiral, 1916.

He was appointed captain of dreadnought battleship Emperor of India on 15 September, 1914.[9]

Nicholson was appointed captain of Canada on 30 June, 1915. He would command her at the Battle of Jutland, operating as part of the Fourth Battle Squadron. As he reported in his after-action report, the ship fired forty-two main battery rounds during the action, and over 100 6-in shells, to uncertain effect.

On 10 June 1916, Nicholson was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral, vice Nelson-Ward.[10] On 15 September he was appointed an Additional Member of the Third Class, or Companion, in the Military Division of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (C.B.) dated 31 May.[11]

He was appointed Rear-Admiral in the First Battle Squadron, hoisting his flag in the Emperor of India on 7 December. His staff was composed of Henry Rogers, Secretary, Roden H. V. Buxton, Flag Lieutenant, and Maurice H. Elliot, Clerk to Secretary.[12]

He was thanked for developing a system for firing through a smoke screen in 1918. As the war ended, he was being granted periods of leave: first two weeks in early October, and then in December.[13]

Post-War

Nicholson was appointed an Additional Member of the Second Class, or Knight Commander, in the Military Division of the Order of the Bath (K.C.B.) on 24 March, 1919.[14]

Nicholson was promoted to the rank of Vice-Admiral on 24 November, 1920, vice Nicholson.[15]

Nicholson was promoted to the rank of Admiral on 1 July, 1925, vice Duff.[16] He was placed on the Retired List at his own request on 14 October.[17]

Bibliography

  • "Admiral Sir William Nicholson" (Obituaries). The Times. Monday, 11 January, 1932. Issue 46027, col A, p. 14.

Service Records

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
Henry A. Phillipps 		Captain of H.M.S. Antelope
10 Sep, 1902[18][19] – 30 Nov, 1904[20] 		Succeeded by
Frederic W. Dean
Preceded by
Lewis Clinton-Baker 		Captain of H.M.S. Berwick
15 Jan, 1908[21] – 2 Sep, 1908[22] 		Succeeded by
Hugh T. Hibbert
Preceded by
Henry F. Oliver 		Captain of H.M.S. Achilles
23 Nov, 1908[23][24] – 18 Apr, 1911[25] 		Succeeded by
The Hon. Stanhope Hawke
Preceded by
Robert S. P. Hornby 		Captain of H.M.S. Vernon
1 Nov, 1911[26] – 15 Sep, 1914[27] 		Succeeded by
Frederick L. Field
Preceded by
New Command 		Captain of H.M.S. Emperor of India
15 Sep, 1914[28] – 9 Jul, 1915[29] 		Succeeded by
Charles W. R. Royds
Preceded by
New Command 		Captain of H.M.S. Canada
30 Jun, 1915[30][31] – 1 Dec, 1916[32] 		Succeeded by
James C. Ley
Preceded by
Alexander L. Duff 		Rear-Admiral in the First Battle Squadron
1 Dec, 1916[33] – 20 Mar, 1919[34] 		Succeeded by
The Hon. Victor A. Stanley
Preceded by
Charles Bartolomé 		Third Sea Lord and Controller of the Navy
1 Jul, 1919[35] – 15 Apr, 1920[36] 		Succeeded by
Sir Frederick L. Field
Preceded by
Sir Arthur C. Leveson 		Vice-Admiral Commanding, Second Battle Squadron
1 Oct, 1920[37] – 3 May, 1921[38] 		Succeeded by
William C. M. Nicholson, V.A.C. First Battle Squadron
Preceded by
Sir Sydney R. Fremantle 		Vice-Admiral Commanding, First Battle Squadron
3 May, 1921[39] – 14 Oct, 1922 		Succeeded by
Sir Edwyn S. Alexander-Sinclair

Footnotes

  1. ↑ 20191224 Contact email from Janet Seaton, Chair of the Langport & District History Society, citing Nicholson's baptismal record.
  2. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 25514. p. 4516. 25 September, 1885.
  3. ↑ Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 214.
  4. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 26924. p. 7854. 31 December, 1897.
  5. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 27812. p. 4557. 30 June, 1905.
  6. ↑ Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 214.
  7. ↑ Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 214.
  8. ↑ Blond. Technology and Tradition. p. 167.
  9. ↑ The Navy List. (December, 1914). p. 311.
  10. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 29629. p. 6066. 20 June, 1916.
  11. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 29751. p. 9070. 15 September, 1916.
  12. ↑ The Navy List. (November, 1917). p. 393l.
  13. ↑ Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 214.
  14. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 31248. p. 3859. 24 March, 1919.
  15. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 32154. p. 12054. 7 December, 1920.
  16. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 33068. p. 4866. 21 July, 1925.
  17. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 33093. p. 6693. 16 October, 1925.
  18. ↑ Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 214.
  19. ↑ The Navy List. (January, 1904). p. 273.
  20. ↑ Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 214.
  21. ↑ Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 214.
  22. ↑ Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 214.
  23. ↑ Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 214.
  24. ↑ The Navy List. (April, 1911). p. 272.
  25. ↑ Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 214.
  26. ↑ Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 214.
  27. ↑ Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 214.
  28. ↑ Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 214.
  29. ↑ Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 214.
  30. ↑ Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 214.
  31. ↑ The Navy List. (December, 1916). p. 392rr.
  32. ↑ Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 214.
  33. ↑ Squadrons and Senior Naval Officers in Existence on 11th November, 1918. p. 2.
  34. ↑ Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 214.
  35. ↑ Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 214.
  36. ↑ Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/88. f. 77.
  37. ↑ Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 194.
  38. ↑ Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/88. f. 77.
  39. ↑ "Naval and Military" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Wednesday, 23 March, 1921. Issue 42676, col D, p. 12.

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