I wonder if I could ask if anyone can help discover more information about Albert Nichol, Royal Engineers from WW2? I do a podcast and Tom Collins recently wrote to me about a captivating story of his Grandad which I feel deserves sharing. "Grandad was in ww2 serving with the Royal Engineers and he saw service at El Alamein and Italy, among others, and was also awarded a DSM for taking an allied tank back from behind enemy lines that the Germans had previously taken. Grandad was Albert Nichol, a Geordie, but everyone called him Nick. He drove the big six wheelers - called Scammels. Like many others, he didn’t particularly enjoy talking about what he’d seen. It wasn’t until my grandparents had both passed that I’d learn he’d lost a lot of friends. He himself ended up as a flight engineer at Boscombe Down airfield in Wiltshire until he retired." Tom Collins I've done a few searches and can't find out any more info but I know Tom would be chuffed to bits if more details are available.
Only Albert Nichol listed is for a Gunner MM . Recommendation for Award for Nichol, Albert Cramond Rank: Serjeant Service... | The National Archives I thought DSM was a Naval medal ?
Until 1993, the Distinguished Service Medal (DSM) was a military decoration awarded to personnel of the Royal Navy and members of the other services, and formerly also to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, up to and including the rank of Chief Petty Officer, for bravery and resourcefulness on active service at sea. The medal was established on 14 October 1914. It was the Other Ranks' equivalent to the Distinguished Service Cross, which was awarded to commissioned officers and Warrant Officers, although it ranked below that decoration in order of precedence, between the George Medal and the Military Medal after those medals' respective establishments in 1940 and 1916. Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal are entitled to use the post-nominal letters "DSM". In 1993, the DSM was discontinued, and since then the Distinguished Service Cross has been available for award to personnel of all ranks. Distinguished Service Medal (United Kingdom) - Wikipedia Although I note in this link - Medals: campaigns, descriptions and eligibility - GOV.UK the DSC which replaces the DSM is stated as : The Distinguished Service Cross is an operational gallantry award given to all ranks of the services in recognition of exemplary gallantry during active operations against the enemy at sea. Personnel who perform a further act of such gallantry which would have merited a second award of the DSC are issued with a silver bar, with rounded ends, ornamented by a crown. This award is available posthumously. So a little confused there TD
If he was Army and no sign of water involved then it is most likely a DCM or MM he was awarded. I think he may have his A Nichols mixed up: For outstanding skill and determination in HM Ships Duncan, Sunflower and Vidette on convoy escort duty in successful attacks on U-Boats. DSM awarded to Acting Able Seaman Alfred Henry Nichols, C/JX.376077 (Southampton) Gazetted 18th April 1944
The above link is my father's record. To clarify/help he was a Geordie and served with The Northumberland Hussars, also known as 102nd Anti-Tank Regt during WW2. He was reommended by Lt General JS Nichols for a DCM, but awarded the MM for his action on the Mareth Line, Tunisia. He was known as 'Nick' to his comrades and 'Albert' to his officers. He served in the Middle East and Greece, later Sicily and at D-Day. After the war he joined the Newcastle and Gateshead Fire Service where he served until his retirement. I hope this clears up any confusion.
I think this is my uncle, his sister, Mary told me the story about the tank. I thought he got the DSC but can’t be sure
First name(s) Albert Cromend Last name Nichol Service number 555949 Rank Sgt Unit or regiment 274 LAA Battery 25 LAA Regiment RA Service RA Award Military Medal Award year 1943 Theatre Middle East Gazette date 01.06.1943 Residence Newcastle-on-Tyne Dataset Royal Artillery Military Medal awards 1916-1995