Suffolk Regiment, 7th Battalion
Killed in Action on Wednesday, 27th March 1918
Aged 25
John was born in Badwell Ash (Stow Q4-1892 4A:715) son of John Thorsby and Maria NICE (nee LARGENT).
1901 census...Aged 8, he was at The Street, Badwell Ash with his father John NICE [32] a pig and cattle dealer; his mother Maria [46]; sister Thirza [23] and brother William [5]. They were all born in Badwell Ash.
1911 census...Aged 18 (now recorded as Jack) he was a horseman on farm still living at The Street, Badwell Ash, with his widowed mother; sisters Thirza [31] and Emma [30], brother William who was now a boy on farm, and a cousin James [44]. His mother had borne 13 children but 6 had died. His father had died in 1902.
His brother William (below) was killed on May 4th 1917 in France.
He enlisted in Bury St.Edmunds.
On the 26th March 1918 the 7th Suffolks were defending the Albert bridgehead, back to positions they had constructed 2 years previously. The force of the German onslaught (The Kaiserschlact) meant they had their backs to the wall, with very little equipment, no artillery support, no bombs, rifle grenade, trench mortars or even sufficient shovels. They were along the railway line, the left company resting on the Albert railway station, the right about 300 yards south of the Albert-Amiens road. Several attacks were beaten off but at 10.20pm the Germans attacked in strength. Attack and counter attack ensued, but the Suffok had to pull back 300 yards, but managed at last to stabilise this position. One platoon was reduced to 3 men. Short of food and water they were relieved just before dawn on the 28th.
In the three days 26-28th, they had suffered 256 casualties. Of these 73 were killed on the 27th, with only 10 of them having identified graves.
John Nice is commemorated on the Pozieres memorial, France, panel 25
Click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details
East Surrey Regiment, 8th Battalion
Died of his Wounds on Friday, 4th May 1917
Aged 21
William was born in Badwell Ash (Stow Q2-1896 4A:819) son of John Thorsby and Maria NICE (nee LARGENT).
1901 census...Aged 5, he was at The Street, Badwell Ash with his father John NICE [32] a pig and cattle dealer; his mother Maria [46]; sister Thirza [23] and brother John [8]. They were all born in Badwell Ash
1911 census...Aged 15, a boy on farm, still living at The Street, Badwell Ash, with his widowed mother; sisters Thirza [31] and Emma [30], brother John who was now recorded as Jack, and a cousin James [44]. His mother had borne 13 children but 6 had died. His father had died in 1902.
His brother John (above) was killed on March 27th 1918 in France.
He enlisted in Bury St.Edmunds.
Warlincourt Halte Military Cemetery was used from June 1916 to May 1917 by the 20th and 43rd Casualty Clearing Stations.
William was in the same battalion as William Largent (a relative) and died the day after him.It seems most likely that William NICE was injured in the previous day's Cherisy attack and died at one of the Casualty Clearing Stations at Warlincourt, which were only about 17-18 miles away across country.
From the war diary of the 8th East Surreys for the attack at Cherisy click here to go to the details of operations.
c Commonwealth War Graves Commission
William Nice is buried in Warlincourt Halte British Cemetery, Saulty, France, grave 10:G:13
Click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details
