307656 Gunner
2/1st Lowland (City of Edinburgh) Heavy Battery,182nd Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery
Age: 23
Date of Death: 29.11.17
Buried: Tyne Cot Memorial Panel 6 to7
Family history: Son of John & Euphemia Nicolson, 84 Forth Street, Grangemouth. He had two younger brothers James and John. Prior to enlisting he was a Clerk working in the Commercial Bank. He had enlisted in the Queen’s Own Royal Glasgow Yeomanry with the service number 2389 and then transferred to the Royal Garrison Artillery.
The action leading to his death
The 2/1st was part of the 92nd Heavy Artillery Group, part of Fifth Army, having joined this HAG on 5 October 1917. It was equipped with 60 pounder guns. Siege Batteries were equipped with heavy howitzers, sending large calibre high explosive shells in high trajectory, plunging fire. They were usually equipped with 6 inch, 8 inch and 9.2 inch howitzers, although some had huge railway-or road-mounted 12 inch howitzers. The Siege Batteries were most often employed in destroying or neutralising the enemy artillery, as well as putting fire down on strongpoints, dumps, store, roads and railways behind enemy lines.
There are only two pages of the 182nd Siege Battery war diary remaining, neither cover the period of November 1917. It is therefore, what led to Alexanders death. However, one can speculate that it could have been from enemy aircraft attacking his battery position, not an uncommon event, or from German counter battery fire.
Medals Awarded
Victory Medal, British War Medal
