Bertram Nicholls was one of eight ex-soldiers who played for Claremont in their all conquering 1923 season when they won all three trophies on offer and remained undefeated. Nemo in The Western Chronicle in his end of season review described him: “B. Nicholls (full back): Englishman by birth, but arrived in Australia at a tender age. Graduated through junior ranks to his present position, which he has held since his return from the war.”
Bertram was born in Manchester in 1898 and arrived in Perth with his parents in 1912. He enlisted as an 18 year old in February 1917 and served in France with the 5th Field Ambulance.
After returning from the war he married Doris Walsh in 1921. They had two children, but tragically both passed away at a very young age. Bertram Nicholls died in 1967 in Nedlands, WA, at the age of 69. His older brother John Nicholls also played for Claremont and returned from the war.