DISTINGUISHED WAR RECORD

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25207, 11 June 1947, Page 9

DISTINGUISHED WAR RECORD

DR. JAMES NICOL TO LIVE IN CHRISTCHURCH Known to thousands of people in Britain as an anonymous front-line doctor when his photograph appeared on the cover of “Picture Post” in October, 1944, Dr. James Nicol intends to live in Christchurch. He will arrive in New Zealand this month. Dr. Nicol had a distinguished war record as an officer in the Royal Army Medical Corps, serving for six and a half years. He was in Norway, France, Germany, and the Middle East, and was among the survivors of the battle of Arnhem. Before the war Dr. Nicol w.as in practice in Sheffield, and was on the reserve of officers. He joined the R.A.M.C. before hostilities began. During the fighting in Norway he served at Narvik, and when he returned to Britain was attached to the norin-western command, being stationed in northern Ireland. After service during the invasion of Ndrth Africa, Dr Nicol landed in France with the first wave of British troops when the second front opened. He commanded a field ambulance unit in the most forward area at the battle of Caen, and for his gallantry in action was awarded the Military Cross. With the assistance of one corporal, the rest of his unit having become casualties. Dr. Nicol handled 1750 casualties. Dr. Nicol was a medical officer with the airborne forces which landed at Arnhem, and was amongst the small number that escaped. Later he became the medical officer in charge of a number of concentration camps in Germany when they were occupied by the British forces. He attained the rank of major in the R.A.M.C. After demobilisation he returned to his practice in Sheffield. Mrs Nicol is a New Zealander. She was formerly Miss S. J. Brownlee, daughter of a well-known Christchurch doctor, tha late Dr. - J. J. Brownlee.