Personal information

Husband of Joan Ethel Nicholas (nee Thackara). David Nicholas was trained as a marine engineer and served his time at Brown Duncan Ltd in Bootle, Liverpool, before joining the Merchant Navy with the Yeoward Line. His early career details were lost when he was taken prisoner on Ardeola, which was independently en route from Gibraltar to Malta, disguised as Vichy French ship in Operation Crupper, but captured by Vichy French motor torpedo boats off Cape Bon and taken to Bizerte on 9 November 1942. The prisoners were soon freed by Allied troops that had landed in North Africa the same month and eventually repatriated to the UK. David then joined the Empire Dunstan and survived her sinking on 18 November 1943. Going back on board to open the sea cocks to speed the ships sinking he rescued the ship’s cat and was later Commended for his brave conduct by the King. Several ships and promotions later, he joined the Ile de France as First Engineer. Post war, he led a quieter life in a merchant marine supplier, then in his later years joined the Civil Service/DOE as an engineering maintenance manager based at RAF Sealand in North Wales.