“The "Melbourne Herald" says;— Our special correspondent in London cables that a brilliant officer has been lost to the Australian Flying Corps through the death of Lieut. H. Nicol, who has been killed in a motoring accident. He was a foremost expert in aerial telephony and had been lent to the Royal Air Force. Lieut. Hector Nicol enlisted in Melbourne on December 6th, 1915, at the age of 29. He had formerly been a railway operating porter and was a married man, his widow now living at Avoca. Lieut. Nicol was born at Maheno, New Zealand. In that country he gained some military experience as a member of a volunteer rifle club. He was appointed equipment officer and second lieutenant on November 28th of last year and promoted lieutenant in the Australian Flying Corps on February 23th of this year. His death occurred in the Salisbury (England) Infirmary from fracture of the skull. The deceased officer was well-known in Featherston. and his widow is a daughter of Mr and Mrs E. Barton, of Pirinoa.” [New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 10126, 14 November 1918, Page 3]