John Gordon Nicholson
From Our Contribution
Personal Information | |
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Date of Birth | 24 Mar 1920 |
Place of Birth | Kelmscott, Western Australia |
Death | 27 Feb 1942, aged 21 |
Place of Death | Off Queensland, Australia |
Age at Enlistment | 20 years, 5 months |
Description |
6'2¼" (1.88m) tall ; 144lbs 65.317 kg ; fair complexion ; blue eyes ; light brown hair ; small scar over left patella |
Occupation | clerk |
Religion | Roman Catholic |
Address | Victoria Park, Western Australia |
Next of Kin | Father , Police Inspector Joseph Nicholson |
Military Information | |
Reg Number | 17708 |
Date of Enlistment | 11 Sep 1940 |
Rank | Sergeant |
Unit/Formation | RAAF Base Port Moresby |
Post War Details | |
Australian War Memorial | Australian War Memorial |
Pre War
Had passed the Junior Certificate (Year 10) with passes in English, Latin, History, Geography, Agricultural Science, Maths A and Maths Band was working as a Clerk with the Crown Law Department of Western Australia (Children's Court at Midland junction).
War Service
On enlistment John was sent to the No. 4 Recruit Depot RAAF at Pearce having asked to be trained as a wireless operator. Ten days later on 21 Sep 1940 he was transferred to No. 1 School of Technical Training RAAF in West Melbourne where he completed Wireless/Telegraphy (W/T) Course No. 35 on 15 Mar 1941. From there he was posted to No. 1 Signal School RAAF at Point Cook, to attend a Recruits Drill Course from 23 Mar - 17 Apr 1941. On 29 May 1941 he was remustered as a W/T Operator, and with John's training in Australia completed, he was then transferred on 2 Jun 1941 to No. 2 Embarkation Depot RAAF at Bradfield Park in Sydney.
On 27 Jun 1941 John was posted to No. 11 Squadron RAAF as a Wireless Operator. Then on 1 Aug 1941 John was transferred on paper to the Headquarters Port Moresby and on 26 Sep 1941 his designation changed to Wireless-Air Gunner, and on 1 Oct 1941 he was appointed as a Leading Aircraftman, although his records also have an entry indicating that he was an Acting Sergeant from 26 Sep 1941. On 27 Feb 1942 he was a member of the crew of an aircraft that disappeared, presumably as a result of an aircraft accident near Townsville. Initially reported as missing, but in time presumed to have been killed that day.
Police-Inspector J. Nicholson, who recently left Geraldton on transfer to Fremantle, has received advice to the effect that his son (Sergeant J. Nicholson), who was a wireless operator-air gunner in the Royal Australian Air Force, has been posted missing as a result of an aircraft accident and also that no hope can be held for his survival.[1]
Notes
John is commemorated on Panel 6 at the Rookwood Memorial.
- ↑ Geraldton Guardian and Express (WA:1929-1947) Tuesday 10 March 1942, page 4.