Remembering World War II

Name: Leroy Charles Nichols Rank: Private Service Number: F/10517 Service: Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders, Royal Canadian Infantry Corps Awards: 1939-45 Star, France and Germany Star, War Medal, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp Date of Birth: January 30, 1922 Place of Birth: Trenton, Pictou County, Nova Scotia Date of Enlistment: March 20, 1941 Place of Enlistment: Sydney, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia Age at Enlistment: 19 Address at Enlistment: Trenton, Pictou County, Nova Scotia Height: 5 feet, 4 inches Complexion: Dark Hair Color: Light Brown Eye Color: Hazel Occupation: Labourer Marital Status: Single Religion: Church of England Next of Kin: Charles Nichols (Father) Trenton, NS Date of Death: September 19, 1944 Age: 22 Cemetery: Calais Canadian War Cemetery, Leubringhen, Pas de Calais, France Grave: Section 7, Row D, Grave 11 Commemorated on Page 404 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance Displayed in the Peace Tower in the Memorial Chamber in Ottawa on August 29 Leroy Charles Nichols was the son of Charles Ignas Nichols (1888-1960) and Alice (Laffin) Nichols (1888- 1938), of Trenton, Nova Scotia, and the brother of Laurie Vernon Nichols (), Helen Nichols, Viola (Nichols) Gratto (1920-1998), Dorothy Nichols, Margaret Elizabeth Nichols, Martha Odesa Nichols, and Eva Joan Nichols. Leroy’s mother was born in Maple Grove, Hants Co., NS, and died in Trenton in 1938. His father, a steelworker in Trenton, Nova Scotia was born in Minsk, in Belarus. Leroy completed the 8th grade in school, played organised hockey and enjoyed softball and swimming. He worked 2 years as a riveter for Eastern Car Company in Trenton before his military service. He enlisted March 14, 1940, and first served with the 6th Heavy Battery of the Royal Canadian Artillery at Fort Lingan in Sydney, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. Private Nichols was reallocated to the Infantry Corps on January 12, 1944, and transferred to the No. 1 Transit Camp in Windsor, NS on February 2, 1944. On March 2nd, he was assigned to Camp 60 in Yarmouth where he trained until May 13, 1944, and subsequently transferred for advanced at A14 Canadian Infantry Training Centre in Aldershot, Kings Co., NS. He departed Canada July 20th, disembarking in the United Kingdom on July 27, 1944. Less than a month later, he transferred to France from England on August 17th. In mid September 1944, the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division, with the 8th and 9th Canadian Infantry Brigades chosen to lead, was ordered to take Boulogne-sur-Mer. Leroy’s Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry (SDG) Highlanders were part of the 9th Infantry Brigade. Codenamed Operation Wellhit, it was hoped the capture of Boulogne, and its harbour could alleviate some of the supply issues facing the Allies as they attacked toward Germany. On September 17th, the 9th Infantry Brigade, tanks of the Fort Garry Horse, and the 87th Assault Squadron Royal Engineers attacked toward Boulogne. The SDG Highlanders advanced through St. Martin-Boulogne. Early on the 18th, three armoured assault teams of the 31st British Tank Brigade, accompanied by 9th Brigade infantry, drove into Boulogne hoping to seize bridges over the Liane River but they were all destroyed. Later that day, the North Novas captured Mont Lambert. The SDG Highlanders reached the "upper town" of Boulogne. An attack by Churchills tanks forced the surrender of the defenders. On the 19th, the Highland Light Infantry of Canada attacked across the Liane River, but heavy opposition stalled their advance. The SDG Highlanders took the village of Outreau and the heavily fortified German position, codenamed “Buttercup,” south of Boulogne, the same day. Tragically, Leroy was among the casualties of September 19, 1944, killed in action during the fighting. Leroy was initially buried in a field near the school in Conteville-les-Boulogne, and later reinterred at the Calais Canadian War Cemetery in the village of Leubringhen, in the Pas de Calais Department of France. The family chose the inscription, “I am the real vine’s shoot but my father in heaven is the vine’s dresser. St. John XV.” He is also remembered on a family grave marker at the Hillside Cemetery in Trenton, Pictou Co., NS.

Leroy Charles Nichols

Source: Commonwealth War Graves Commission Canadian Virtual War Memorial findagrave – Calais Canadian War Cemetery findagrave – Hillside Cemetery, Trenton, NS