Nicholas Way was born in 1895 in Portland, Dorset, the son of a distinguished Trinity House pilot. After growing up in the local maritime community, he took a job as a "Newsboy" (newspaper vendor) at the age of 15, making him a familiar face around Castletown pier.

The defining moment of his life came on August 1st, 1912, when, at the age of 16, he plunged into the choppy, 16-foot deep waters of Portland Harbour to save two non-swimming brothers, Maurice and Leslie Thompson, from drowning. Nicholas succeeded in holding both boys until rescuers arrived, an act the local newspaper described as a "miracle." However, the effort left him severely exhausted.

His heroism was immediately recognized locally and nationally, earning him awards from the Royal Humane Society and the prestigious Carnegie Hero Trust Fund. Tragically, the exposure and exhaustion from the immersion led to him catching a cold that developed into lobar pneumonia. Just six months after his incredible rescue, Nicholas Way died on February 6th, 1913, at the age of 17.

His funeral was attended by a sympathetic, crowd-lined street, with his coffin bearing a wreath "from the two lads saved," Maurice and Leslie Thompson, who lived full lives that included serving in the First World War, marrying, and raising families - all thanks to Nicholas's ultimate sacrifice.