For Gertrude Alice Nicholls who died aged 67 in 1931, Herbert William Nicholls who died aged 73 in 1932 and "Bugler G C (Percy) Nicholls" of the 3rd Rifle Brigade killed in action in France aged 24 in 1914.
Gertrude suffered a tragedy in 1887 when her little girl, Agnes Clara age 1 was burned to death in their Oxford Rd home. Gertrude had left Agnes in her high chair near a fire protected with a guard for about a quarter of an hour while she watched another daughter walk to school. Afterwards she spoke to a neighbour Mrs Freegard for a few minutes as the latters daughter normally walked Gertrude's to school but had not stopped by that day. A neighbour - Joseph Pratt's - daughter smelled burning and alerted the neighbour to smoke coming out of Gertrude's door. He rushed in and found the little girls clothes alight along with the hearth rug and washing left drying on the guard. He grabbed hold of the infant and assisted by another neighbour Mrs Rogers, put out the flames. The inquest was held at the Duke of Cambridge and poor Gertrude was censured for leaving her girl in a dangerous position, especially as she had just built up the fire. It was thought as she left the front door open and it was a windy day, the fire had suddenly flared up, and caught the washing and then little Agnes. The coroner's jury was asked to consider if Gertrude had been criminally negligent. They immediately decided no, and ruled the death as accidental. No doubt they considered that she had intended to be gone very little time and was only absent to ensure the safety of another daughter.
Use this © photo if you wish with credit. Photo and transcription by Charlotte Day.
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