Ernest Turnbull Nicholson was the son of Scottish-born ship owner and broker, John Nicholson, and his wife, Jane.

Ernest was born in South Shields, and attended the High School from age 6. He left just at the end of 1896, at the age of 16, to join North East Bank in Newcastle.

By 1900 he had joined the 5th Volunteer Battalion of the Durham Light Infantry, where he rose to 2nd Lieutenant, and in 1908 was formally appointed to the Battalion.

He married Norah Humble in 1909.

By the start of the war he had been promoted to Captain.

Nothing is yet known of his war service, but after the war he went back to banking, becoming a bank branch manager, and later a district manager.

He died at the War Memorial Hospital, Hexham, in September 1966.