Private Thomas McNicholas

Thomas McNicholas was the eldest son of Irish immigrants John and Maria McNicholas, who came to live in Barnsley, England in the 1920s , having left their home in County Mayo, Ireland

Private McNicholas successfully completed parachute training at RAF Ringway on course number 150B from 24 January to 8 February 1945. He was posted to 13th (2/4th Battalion the South Lancashire Regiment) Battalion, the Parachute Regiment, and took part in Operation Varsity (Rhine Crossing).

Pte McNicholas was killed in action on 24 March 1945, aged 18, whilst taking part in the daylight parachute drop into Germany as part of the Rhine Crossing during operation Varsity and was given a field burial at Hamminkeln, Germany and was re-interred to Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany, on 14 November 1946.

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