John William Nichols

A Leading Telegraphist with H.M.S. Firedrake, John died on 17th of December 1942 at the age of 40.

John was born at Kessingland on 18 December 1901, a son of George and Anne Phoebe Nichols. He was baptised at Saint Edmund's Church, Kessingland, on 16 February 1902. In 1911 his family lived at Field Lane, Kessingland and in 1921 his parents lived at White House Corner, Carlton Colville.

By August 1917 John was working as a porter for the Great Eastern Railway Company.

On 25 June 1918 John joined the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class and served in the navy continually until his death. From 1936 to 1939 he was seconded to the Royal New Zealand Navy. John was awarded the Royal Navy Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in 1935. He joined H.M.S. Renown on 29 August 1939. 

On 23 December 1926 John married Dora Kathleen Spalding at Saint Peter's Church, Carlton Colville. Dorothy was living at Carlton Colville. John gave his occupation as Royal Navy and his address as Belton. By 1939 their home was at Portchester, Beccles Road, Carlton Colville.

From early 1942 H.M.S. Firedrake was an Atlantic Convoy escort ship. On 16 December 1942 the Firedrake was escorting Convoy ON 153 and was sunk by a torpedo fired by the German submarine U-211. There were 26 survivors, but 140 crew, including John, were killed.