Gordon Arnold Nickerson

Gordon Arnold Nickerson 469266 Corporal 64th Battalion January 10, 1889 Pleasant Lake, Yarmouth Co., NS August 27, 1915 Sussex NB 26 5 feet, 11½ inches Fair Brown Brown Married Painter Methodist Margaret Nickerson (Wife) Lake Side, Yarmouth Co., NS February 14, 1919 May 8, 1958 Gordon Nickerson was the son of Sumner Troupe Nickerson (1864–1935) and Caroline Augusta (Perry) Nickerson (1864-1924). Gordon married Margaret Doane on January 11, 1915. Gordon Nickerson enlisted with the 64th Battalion. He arrived in England on April 9, 1916 and was transferred to the 21st Battalion and taken on strength on July 6, 1916. He embarked for France on July 13, 1916 and joined the unit in the field on July 14, 1916. Suffering from shell shock, he was hospitalized in September, 1916. In May 31, 1917, he was transferred to the 6th Reserve Battalion and on July 11, 1918 to the 17th Reserve Battalion at Bramshott. On January 1919 he returned to Canada and was discharged on February 14, 1919. Corporal Nickerson also served during WWII as an instructor at Camp 60; Yarmouth’s Canadian Army Basic Training Centre (CABTC). Gordon’s son Lieutenant Sumner Kitchener Nickerson also served in the Second World War. The following is Lt. Nickerson’s Military Cross Citation: Lieutenant Sumner Kitchener Nickerson has been a platoon commander with the West Nova Scotia Regiment for a large part of the Italian Campaign and the North West Campaign until badly wounded during the crossing of the Ijssel River in Holland. His calm yet forceful character, sincere sense of duty, and outstanding tactical ability when added to his complete disregard for personal safety under enemy fire, if it will aid the success of his platoon has made him known by his fellow officers and men as an officer who can be completely trusted and followed at all times. One example of Lieutenant Nickerson's ability is brought out during the Regiment's attack on San Lorenzo MR 863912 on 15 September 1944 in Italy. Two previous attacks having been broken up by heavy machine gun, self-propelled and mortar fire, 'B' Company with Lieutenant Nickerson's platoon leading went into the attack which was uphill. With great coolness Lieutenant Nickerson led his platoon up the bare slope into the strongly held position. Observing machine gun fire coming from a flank which appeared to be the pivot point of the defence, he and his runner charged the machine gun post and knocked it out. Led by Lieutenant Nickerson they entered dugout after dugout clearing the enemy from their positions. In all they inflicted twenty-three casualties, all of whom were killed. The core of resistance now broken the company and battalion were able to consolidate on their objective very quickly. Throughout every action Lieutenant Nickerson has displayed a courage under fire which has been an inspiration and example to the men of his platoon and to the officers and men of his battalion.

Library and Archives Canada findagrave.com

Gordon and Margaret (Doane) Nickerson