Nixon, William | Universities at War

Personal details

Name on Memorial:

Nixon, W.

Forename(s):

William

Surname:

Nixon

Date of Death:

Saturday, July 1, 1916

Age at Death:

University life

College:

Armstrong College, Newcastle upon Tyne

Staff or Student:

Student

Military Service

The information displayed here is at the time of death.

Rank:

Captain

Service:

Army

Unit:

Northumberland Fusiliers, 20th Battalion

Prisoner of War:

Theatre of War:

France and Flanders

Biography

William was the son of John and Jane Nixon. He had three siblings, John, Eleanor and Ernest.

William was commissioned on 1st December 1914 as a Captain in the Northumberland Fusiliers, 20th (Tyneside Scottish) Battalion. On the first day of the Battle of the Somme, William led the first wave of the attack on 1st July 1916. He was killed in action aged 32.

Addresses before and during the war

Place of Burial or Battle Site Memorial

William is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial in Somme, France.

Memorials

Additional images

Research information

Sources:

UK Census registers, National Archives (available via Ancestry.co.uk)

UK Military Service Records, National Archives (available via Ancestry.co.uk)

Newcastle University Archives (Roll of Service, Armstrong College Calendars)

Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Stewart and Sheen (1999) Tyneside Scottish...

Researched by:

Sophie Anderton, Amy Shiel, Rosie Setford.