A team mate of Fred Darke at Granville Rechabites, Oswald ‘Ossey’ Nicholson enlisted at the age of 20 in June of 1914 and shipped out a month later with the 1st Battalion 7th Re-inforcements. Both Darke & Nicholson received a send off from members of the club where Darke was presented with a mouth organ & Ossey a silk handkerchief.
Nicholson, a grocer by trade, rose to the rank of 2nd Corporal and returned home safely in 1919. His Battalion fought at Amiens, Pozieres, Lone Pine & Bullecourt among other battlefields.
The highlight of his football career was representing Granville & Districts Juveilles alongside Rechabites teammate George Harmer and future socceroo, Bill Dane against a Sydney representative side in 1912.