223 The Royal Canadian Legion MANITOBA & NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO COMMAND www.mbnwo.ca NICHOLSON, Herbert WWII Herbert was born in Langford, Manitoba on March 24, 1915, to Fred and Lucy Nicholson. He received his education in Franklin, Manitoba. Herb enlisted in the Army in 1941 and served overseas with the 12th Manitoba Dragoons. He served in the United Kingdom, France, Holland, Belgium and Germany. He was awarded the Military Medal in 1944 and also received the War Medal 1939-1945, France and Germany Star, 1939-1945 Star, Defence Medal and Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp. After discharge on February 14, 1946, Herb married Anne Elder on February 14, 1950. He worked for C.N.R. as a carman, first in Kamsack, Saskatchewan then in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He retired after thirty years. Herb was a faithful member of The Royal Canadian Legion up until his passing on October 22, 2003. On August 30, 1944, “B” Squadron, 18 Canadian Armoured Car Regiment (12 Manitoba Dragoons) was carrying out reconnaissance north of Fresne le Plan, ahead of four Canadian Armoured Brigade. A troop of which Trooper Nicholson was a member was the leading troop of the Brigade CL [meaning of “CL” uncertain]. By mid-afternoon, the advance had reached Blainville Crevon after constant contact with the enemy who had been withdrawing through the morning. At this point, one troop of tanks from an armoured regiment was leading, followed by Trooper Nicholson’s troop which was followed by an armoured regiment and one company of the Lake Superior Regiment. The troop of tanks passed through Blainville Crevon without event. Several minutes later, Trooper Nicholson’s scout car, as the leading vehicle of his troop, rounded the corner at Map Reference 346202 Sheet 9E/3 and was fired on at 150-yard range by a 75-mm anti-tank gun. This gun was one of two anti-tank guns which the enemy was in the process of moving into position in an apparent attempt to stop or delay the advance along the CL. Trooper Nicholson’s scout car was disabled. Realizing that the destruction of the enemy guns was essential to prevent them knocking out two armoured cars and his troop followed closely behind, as well as delaying the armoured regiment of which his troop was the vanguard, and not withstanding the fact that his vehicle had crashed into a stone wall and was at point-blank range from the 75-mm gun, Trooper Nicholson remained with his vehicle and assisted his crew commander, Corporal Spence, J. R., to engage the enemy. By the heavy, sustained, and accurate fire they laid down, casualties were inflicted upon the crew of one gun and the remaining members of the gun crew were driven away from the gun, thus effectively silencing it. Their fire further prevented the crew of the other gun from working it into a position from which it could engage their troops and forced the enemy to withdraw in haste. Trooper Nicholson’s coolness and teamwork with his crew commander and his complete disregard for personal safety under fire were responsible for the prevention of delay in the advance of his troop and of the armoured brigade following closely behind.
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