b. 27/03/1875 Dorchester, New Brunswick, Canada. d. 10/05/1954 Cour, Scotland.
William Henry Snyder Nickerson (1875-1954) was born on 27th March 1875 in Dorchester, New Brunswick, Canada, the son of the Reverend D. Nickerson, M.A. who was Chaplain to the Forces. His mother was Catherine, the daughter of Reverend W. H. Snyder, M.A. His family moved back to England when he was a small child and he was educated at Portsmouth Grammar School, Manchester Grammar School and Owen’s College, Manchester University, where he qualified in medicine in 1896.
William H S Nickerson VC CB CMG
Two years later in July 1898, he joined the Royal Army Medical Corps, and was within a year, posted to South Africa to take part in the Second Boer War. He was attached to the Mounted Infantry throughout the whole war from 1899-1902. Nickerson was mentioned in despatches, promoted to Captain, and awarded the Victoria Cross during the war (London Gazette, 12th February 1901).
At Wakkerstroom, on the evening of the 20th April, 1900, during the advance of the Infantry to support the Mounted Troops, Lieutenant Nickerson went, in the most gallant manner, under a heavy rifle and shell fire, to attend a wounded man from the Worcestershire Regiment, dressed his wounds, and remained with him till be had him conveyed to a place of safety.
Following the Boer War, he remained in the RAMC and was promoted to Major in 1909. He then served in the Great War from 1914, with the Cavalry during the retreat from Antwerp, first and second battles of Ypres, Neuve Chapelle, and on the Somme in 1915. He then served in Salonika in Greece from late 1915 onwards. During the latter part of the war, he served as ADMS, 2nd Division. He was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel and was created a CMG in 1916.
He later achieved the rank of major general after service in World War I and was appointed Colonel -in-Chief of the RAMC in 1933. Following his retirement from the RAMC, he lived on a private estate in Scotland. Major-General Nickerson died aged 79, on 10th May 1954 at his home, and was buried in the estate grounds in Cour, Argyll and Bute, Scotland. His medals are not publicly held.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: NOT PUBLICLY HELD.
BURIAL PLACE: PRIVATE SITE, COUR, ARGYLL AND BUTE, SCOTLAND.
