Friends of the Somme - Mid Ulster Branch  
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116782   Driver Bertie Nimmons
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Dated added: 17/02/2019   Last updated: 11/03/2020
Personal Details
Regiment/Service: 17th Lines of Communication, Royal Corps of Signals (British Army)
Date Of Birth: 30/06/1911
Died: 23/02/1945 (Killed in Action)
Age: 33
Summary      
Bertie Norman Nimmons was the son of Robert and Sarah Jane Nimmons. He was born on 30th June 1911. He was one of at least seven children, all born in the Benburb area. Bertie was the husband of Mrs Sadie Nimmons of Braeside, Drumahoe, County Londonderry. Driver Bertie Nimmons was serving with the 17 Line of Communication, Royal Corps of Signals when he was killed in action in a V1/V2 rocket attack in Antwerp on 23rd February 1945.
Further Information
Bertie Norman Nimmons was the son of Robert and Sarah Jane Nimmons. Robert Nimmons and Sarah Cassells were married on 16th June 1904 in the district of Dungannon.
Bertie Nimmons was born on 30th June 1911. He was one of at least seven children, all born in the Benburb area.
Known family: Robert Nimmons, Sarah Jane Nimmons, John Herbert Nimmons (born 10th August 1905), James Albert Thomas Nimmons (born 9th July 1906), Robert Edgar Nimmons (born about 1908), Bertie Norman Nimmons (born 30th June 1911), Reginald Nimmons (born 3rd August 1913), Walter Nimmons (born 17th October 1914), Harold Nimmons (born 25th January 1918).
Bertie was the husband of Mrs Sadie Nimmons G.S.R.N., S.C.M. (State Certified Midwife), of Braeside, Drumahoe, County Londonderry.
Driver Bertie Nimmons was serving with the 17th Line of Communication, Royal Corps of Signals when he was killed in action on 23rd February 1945 in Antwerp.
Driver Bertie Nimmons, and ten of his colleagues from the 17th Line of Communication were killed on that day. It is thought they were killed by a V1 (or possibly a V2) rocket.
In late January, early February, the number of flying bombs had increased to the highest point and then tapered off in the month of March 1945. As the V-weapon attacks on Antwerp came to an end and the German firing crews were forced to retreat by the advancing Allied troops, the last V-2 rocket was felt in Antwerp on March 27, landing in Mortsel killing 27 and injuring another 62 people. The last of the flying bombs occurred on March 30. Final numbers indicate: From October 1944 to March 1945, more than 4,800 V-1's were detected. Of these, only 4.5 percent fell into the protected area around Antwerp.
Driver Bertie Nimmons is buried in Schoonselhof Cemetery in Antwerpan, Belgium.
Driver Bertie Nimmons is NOT commemorated locally.
Many thanks to Kenny Farquhar, whose research was instrumental to this information
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References and Links
No Link Reference Map Doc
1 1911 Census lists Nimmons family Lists Bertie as a baby living with the family at house 3 in Tullygiven, Brantry, Tyrone)
2 Forum discussion (WW2 Talk) Details of Antwerp bombings
3 V2 Rockets - Antwerp City of Death Details of the huge rocket bombardments on Antwerp in early 1945.
4 War Graves Photographic Project Photo of Driver Bertie Nimmons' headstone can be purchased here
Dungannon District's War Dead Acknowledgements 2015-2023