Stoker 1st Class.
K/14764(PO).
Born Salop 26th Feb 1894.
Died at sea 31st May 1916.
Buried in Aberdeen (Trinity) Cemetery F. 3. 555.(CMP).
Thomas was the son of Hannah and Samuel Nickless. His name is listed on the war memorial in Coalbrookdale.
Aberdeen Press and Journal – Saturday 10 June 1916:
Seaman’s Burial Ground.
Some disappointment was expressed in seafaring circles in Aberdeen in connection with the funeral of Seaman Nickless from the city police mortuary to Trinity Cemetery on Tuesday. The funeral was carried out by an Aberdeen firm of undertakers, on the instructions of the Admiralty, who, as the seaman’s remains had not been claimed, bore the whole expense of the funeral, which was attended with naval and military honours. The feeling referred to arose in consequence of the remains being interred in that part of the cemetery allocated to strangers. Seaman Nickless had fallen in the defence of his country in the great naval battle, and it was felt to be fitting that not only should he be buried in a more prominent spot the cemetery, but that some permanent memorial should placed over his resting-place.
Generous Gift.
Mr George Cooper, stevedore and contractor, 31 Adelphi, one of those who interested themselves in the matter being desirous of marking his admiration of the heroism of sailors who gave their lives in the battle, intimated his willingness to bear the whole expense of providing a corner of the cemetery to be set aside as the place of interment of naval men dying in the service of their country. He accordingly communicated with the naval authorities at the port, who signified their readiness to accept the gift. Mrs Cooper is associated with her husband in the generous proposal, and Mr Cooper has handed over a cheque for £100 to meet the cost of three lairs in Trinity Cemetery, a granite kerb to enclose the ground, and a handsome monument of the same material to be inscribed with the names of the donors, and of the brave seamen whose remains are laid there.
The first use of the ground so consecrated was made on Thursday afternoon, when the remains of Seaman Nickless were re-interred the presence of an officer and detachment of bluejackets from deceased’s ship.
Westerham Herald, 1 July 1916:
HONOURABLE BURIAL.
NO PAUPER’S GRAVE FOR HERO.
From Aberdeen comes a story of a sailor who took part in the North Sea battle being committed to a pauper’s grave.
When the vessel bearing his body put into Aberdeen no relative claimed him. It was decided to bury him with full naval and military honours, and the funeral procession was headed by the pipes and drums of the Gordon Highlanders. But at the graveside it was discovered that the dead seaman was to sleep in “Strangers’ Ground”- where nameless people lie – where the graves are free, because those who lie in them had not the means to pay for more honourable burial.
Fortunately Mr. George Cooper, a local contractor, heard of the matter, and wrote out a cheque for £100 for the purchase of a piece of ground in Trinity Cemetery to be consecrated as the burial place of naval men dying in the service of the country whose bodies are not claimed by relatives. Provision is also made for a memorial recording their names and the manner of their dying.
The Admiralty has accepted the gift, and two days after the first burial a naval party saw the remains of their dead comrade laid to rest in his new grave.
Aberdeen Press and Journal – Friday 12 November 1920
11th November, 1920. Mrs Cooper, wife of Mr George Cooper, 90 Hamilton Place, placed the wreath on the grave in Trinity Cemetery where officers and men belonging to the Royal Navy and Royal Naval Reserve are buried. The site of the grave and the beautiful monument that now stands on it were generously given to the Admiralty by Mr and Mrs Cooper, Captain Laird, C.B., R.N., senior naval officer, who was unable to be present as arranged, was represented by Commissioned Officer Scanlon.
