Stephen McNickle born 1879
A well known face from the book "Gangs of Birmingham" and Police mug shots held at the West Midlands Police Museum in Sparkbrook. His image has become more well known since the screening of the BBC series Peaky Blinders and the resulting newspaper articles about the series and stories concerning the original Peaky Blinders.
In the 1911 Census Stephen McNickle was living with his wife Louisa and five children at Wharton Street, Nechells and his job was a "Edge Tool Striker."
He enlisted into the South Staffordshire Regiment on 12 October 1914. His attestation form on Ancestry is for One Years Service, Army Reserve (Special Reservist). He put down that he had previously served with the 3rd Battalion South Staffordshire.
His service papers on Ancestry are quite poor quality in parts and some information is very hard to read.
However it does seem that Stephen and Louisa were not married and a document in his papers states that they were married two days before he enlisted. No doubt she would not have received a separation allowance otherwise. The family were now living at Premier Street, Nechells.
Records show that he went to France 17 December 1914 and joined the 1st Bn South Staffordshire Regiment, Service No.10654
He was back in the UK on 8 January 1915 after 23 days.
He returned to France 17 March 1915 and back again on 28 June 1915 after 104 days in France.
He then spent the next three years in the UK and his records show that he was disciplined a few times for various misdemeanors.
I cannot see the actual date on his papers but at some time he was transferred to the York and Lancaster Regiment, service number 62575.
he was posted to the 18th Bn and landed in France on 3 July 1918
18th (Service) Battalion
Formed on 11 June 1918, absorbing the cadre of the 2/7th Bn, the West Yorkshire Regiment. Some sources say this was at Margate.
11 June 1918 : came under command of 41st Brigade of 14th (Light) Division at Stonycastle Camp, Pirbright.
3 July 1918 : landed at Boulogne. (taken from the website "The Long, Long Trail")
On 22 September, 1918, Pte Stephen McNickle received a Gun Shot Wound to his right arm and shoulder and his right arm was amputated. (A GSW was also used if a soldier was hit by shell fragments)
He came back to the UK on 2 October 1918 and taken to a Hospital in Cheltenham.
He was finally discharged from the army on 25 September 1919 (a year after his wound)
Stephen McNickle died on 20 June 1920 aged 41 and he is now buried in Nechells Roman Catholic Churchyard (St Joseph's) and has a Commonwealth War Grave headstone as no doubt his death was was caused by his his wounds received on 22 September 1918.
LEST WE FORGET