404169 (A4169)  Lance Corporal Richard John Kingsley Nash attested at 21 years of age with the 35th Bn CEF, on 8 April 1915 at Toronto. Nash was an orphan as his mother had died shortly before he enlisted, and his father several years previously.

His next of kin was his only sister, Miss Liela E. Nash, who resided at 11943 Eighty-Second St in Edmonton, Alberta. He was born on 15 July 1894 and listed his calling as that of a Clerk.

Nash was not married. He stood 5′ 8 1/2″, with a dark complexion, blue eyes and black hair. Major Reginald Pellatt, son of Sir Henry Pellatt, witnessed the signing of his attestation paper. Nash had no previous military service.

He set sail for England via Montreal aboard the SS Metagama on 4 June 1915 with the 35th Bn 1st Reinforcing Draft. Upon his arrival at the Canadian training areas in England on 14 June 1915, he was transferred to the 23rd Reserve Bn.

On 15 July 1915, he was promoted from Private to Lance-Corporal at Shorncliffe. The next day, he left the UK and was headed for France, via Boulogne, where he made his way to the 3rd Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force as a reinforcement.

Nash was sent to the “Brigade Bombing School” on 12 December 1915 for one week. Six days later, aged 22, he was killed by an enemy sniper while looking over the parapet.

COOKERS FARM (N34 b 9.4.)
December 24, 1915
Location: (ditto) In Trenches
Moved to relieve 2nd Battalion.
6:30pm Relief complete, H.Q. at COOKERS FARM (N34 b 9.4.) B Coy on left, connecting with the 6th Brigade 2nd Canadian division. A Coy in the centre, C Coy on right connecting with 4th Battalion. D Coy in battalion reserve at R.E. FARM (N35 d 8.5).

December 25, 1915 –Christmas
Location: In Trenches
Germans attempted to makes friends but gave up after several of them were shot. CPL. NASH, B Coy. and PTE. KEOWN, A Coy both shot through head and killed. Quiet day. H.Q. moved to R.E. Farm (N35 d 8.5) at night. Weather fair.

Over the past few months, as the 3rd was in and out of the trenches in the front lines, it was a regular occurrence for a few or even several to be killed and wounded each week by snipers, grenades or shelling.

His platoon commander, Lieutenant Henry Errol Beauchamp Platt, wrote a letter to his own mother, who resided at 1574 King St West in Toronto, confirming the death of LCpl Nash.

Tragically, Lieutenant Platt would himself be killed by a sniper on 5 May 1916 while on a patrol, forward of his trenches near Hill 60, and is buried at Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery. He had trained to be the machine-gun officer of the 3rd Battalion, but was acting as the company bombing officer at the time of LCpl Nash’s death.

Lance Corporal Nash is buried at Wulverghem-Lindenhoek Road Military Cemetery, grave reference I. E. 18.