Branch of Service

Air Force

Conflict

World War II (1939-1945)

Date of Enlistment

10/10/1942

Place of Enlistment

Sydney NSW

Gender

Male

Date of Birth

11/06/1924

Place of Birth

Queanbeyan NSW [Queanbeyan ACT on DVA WW2 Nominal roll]

Address (at enlistment)

5 Campbell Street, Ainslie, Canberra ACT

School(s) Attended

Duntroon School, Telopea Park School (1936-38), Canberra High School (1939-41)

Occupation

Commonwealth public servant, Department of the Interior, Canberra ACT.

Next of Kin

Son of Henry Herbert Nicholson, cleaner, and Vera Eunice Nicholson, postmistress, of Duntroon ACT (1941) and later of 5 Campbell Street, Ainslie, Canberra ACT

Burial Place

Hannover War Cemetery, Hannover, Niedersachsen, Germany: grave 4.F.4.

Service Number

428765

Final Rank

Flight Sergeant

Final Unit

158 Squadron RAF

Died 31 March 1944 aged 19 years, in flying battle over Germany

AWM Roll of Honour, Canberra ACT: Panel 128.
Canberra High School Memorial Tablet

James Nicholson came from Canberra and went to school at Duntroon, Telopea Park and Canberra High School. His mother Vera (nee Phillips) belonged to a pioneering family from 'Sherwood', Uriarra. An avid sportsman, he played rugby, Australian Rules (for Ainslie), hockey, tennis, athletics and cricket and after school worked as a clerk with the Department of Interior.

After training at Narranderra, Nicholson embarked from Brisbane in July 1943 and arrived in England the next month. He joined 158 Squadron on 19 March 1944 as a rear gunner in a Halifax bomber. 158 Squadron was part of Bomber Command and flew regular sorties over Germany. On 31 March 1944, 158 Squadron were on a mission to bomb Nuremburg but shortly before midnight Flight Sergeant Nicholson's plane (LW724, radio call sign NP-S) was shot down by a German fighter over Herbornseelbach about 16 miles north west of Giessen, Germany. Nicholson was killed, aged 19 years. He was buried at a local cemetery but his remains were re-interred at Hannover War Cemetery, Hannover, Niedersachsen, Germany: grave 4.F.4.

Flight Sergeant Ernest Roy Moore of Braddon was a crew mate of Nicholson's and is buried near him at Hannover War Cemetery. His father, Henry Nicholson, served in World War 1 as did his uncles, Harry and Bertie Phillips.

Australia. Department of Veterans' Affairs. World War 2 nominal roll. http://www.ww2roll.gov.au/
Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Debt of Honour Register. <http://www.cwgc.org/cwgcinternet/search/>
AWM Roll of Honour and Roll of Honour Circulars <http://www.awm.gov.au/database/roh.asp>
Canberra High School. Roll of Honour 1939-1945. [Plaque in school]
Canberra High School. Albums compiled for student project researching names on School Roll of Honour, 1985.
Canberra High School. Unveiling of Memorial Tablet. Friday, 25th April 1947. [Programme]
AWM Collections Record : P07321.001
The Canberra Times - 2 December 1935, 8 April 1944, 27 April 1944, 26 April 1946
NAA RecordSearch
ACT Electoral Rolls 1916 to 1967 http://canberraheritageportal.org/default.php
Images courtesy of Bill Chase