Cameron Nicholson
Sir Cameron Nicholson | |
---|---|
(United States) |
Military career
After being educated at
The citation for his MC reads:For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty while in charge of wagon lines and ammunition supply. He repeatedly brought up teams, and controlled their withdrawal, under heavy shell fire. He never let the guns be without ammunition.[4]
Nicholson served with the Royal Horse Artillery in France, India, Iraq, Palestine and Egypt from 1917 to 1927.[3] He served as an instructor at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich from 1927 to 1930,[5] attended the Staff College, Camberley from 1931 to 1932, and then worked as an instructor at the Staff College from 1938 to 1939.[3][1]
He served in the
The 148th Brigade had reached Lillehammer where it encountered the Norwegian Army, commanded by General Otto Ruge, and with which it joined forces.[6] Soon afterwards, the brigade was attacked by strong German air and ground forces and the brigade, with a strength of only two instead of three infantry battalions, was forced to give way in great confusion and by the evening of 23 April it had been forced back all the way down the Gudbrandsdalen, the valley through which the main road ran from the Norwegian capital of Oslo to Trondheim. By now it was no longer a worthy fighting formation.[6] Nicholson and Paget themselves arrived in Norway on 25 April along with the 15th Brigade, which relieved the 148th Brigade. The 15th Brigade was up to strength with three infantry battalions and fought skillfully in engagements at Kvam, Kjoren and Otta but was forced to withdraw, which it did so in an orderly fashion, causing heavy damage to the Germans who were pursuing them.[6] By now, the situation in Norway was hopeless and Paget, believing his objective to be unattainable, received orders on 27 April to evacuate 'Sickleforce' from Norway. The Royal Navy achieved this with little additional loss.[6]
Following this disastrous campaign, Nicholson returned to the United Kingdom, where he went to the 18th Infantry Division as its GSO1, a position he held until October when he was promoted to the rank of brigadier and again came into contact with Paget, this time to serve as his deputy while Paget himself was serving as Deputy Chief of the General Staff (DCGS) of Home Forces.[6] The Commander-in-Chief, Home Forces at this time was General Sir Alan Brooke, and this brought Nicholson into contact with Brooke, who later became Chief of the Imperial General Staff (CIGS). The objective at this time, shortly after the BEF had been evacuated from France along with the French surrender had completely transformed the war situation for the United Kingdom, and the country was preparing itself for a potential German invasion.[6]
He was appointed Commander of the Support Group of the 42nd Armoured Division in 1941 and then second-in-command of the 6th Armoured Division in 1942. In 1943 he became Brigadier General Staff for the 1st Army.[7]
In 1944 he became
Post-war
In 1946 he became Director of Artillery at the
He was
He was also
He was appointed a
Retirement
He was also Master Gunner, St James's Park from 1956 to 1960.[3] He was Governor of the Royal Hospital Chelsea from 1956[12] to 1961.[13]
Bibliography
- Mead, Richard (2007). Churchill's Lions: a biographical guide to the key British generals of World War II. Stroud (UK): Spellmount. ISBN 978-1-86227-431-0.
- Smart, Nick (2005). Biographical Dictionary of British Generals of the Second World War. Barnesley: Pen & Sword. ISBN 1844150496.
References
- ^ a b c Smart 2005, p. 234.
- ^ "No. 29242". The London Gazette. 27 July 1915. p. 7335.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Who Was Who Volume V11 1971 to 1980 (1981)
- ^ "No. 30901". The London Gazette (Supplement). 13 September 1918. p. 10994.
- ^ "No. 33687". The London Gazette. 6 February 1931. p. 833.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Mead 2007, p. 320.
- ^ Mead 2007, p. 321.
- ^ Murray, Brian J. Facing The Fox, America in World War II, (April 2006)
- ^ a b c d Generals.dk
- ^ At sea with 3/KAR Regimental Stories, 3 February 2008
- ^ Kenya: Mow Them Down Time, 25 May 1953
- ^ "No. 40917". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 November 1956. p. 6249.
- ^ "No. 42366". The London Gazette (Supplement). 26 May 1961. p. 3987.