Martin Kurte NICOLAI

Year of Birth: 1914

Place of Birth: Robertstown, South Australia

Date of Enlistment: 4 October 1940, Adelaide, South Australia

Australian Defence Force: Australian Imperial Force

Rank: Gunner

Unit(s): 2/3 Field Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery

Service Number: SX10282

Died: 6 February 1943

Age: 28 years

Buried: Cairns War Cemetery – Plot A – Row A – Grave 12

“Safe In The Arms Of Jesus”
Gnr. M.R Nicolai - The Advertiser (Adelaide) Wed. 24 Feb 1943 p5

Martin Kurte Nicolai was born in Robertstown, South Australia on 3 October 1914 to Wihelm Berthold Richard and Ernstine Martha (Ledischke) Nicolai.  He was one of eleven children, Hildegarde, Johannes, Dorothea, George, Alwin, Gertrude, Emilie, Richard, Elsa and Roy.

He enlisted in Adelaide, South Australia and gave his brother Richard as his next of kin. He served in Syria and Egypt.

Gunner Martin Nicolai died from injuries received in a road accident.

Martin Kurte Nicolai’s name is on Robertstown Roll of Honour board and also located at panel 17 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial.

Online Resources

NAA: B883: (NICOLA, Martin Kurte) National Archives of Australia

Australian War Memorial

Department Veterans’ Affairs Nominal Rolls

National Library of Australia: Trove Digitised Newspapers

Queensland Registrar of Births Deaths & Marriages

South Australian Birth Deaths and Marriages Index

If you have a photograph or further information about this soldier you would like to share and add to his biography, please contact the Society at projects@cdfhs.org or leave a comment below. Thank you!

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