St George's Dinner: James Nicholson - My Uncle, Battle of Britain VC

James Brindley Eric Nicolson was born on 29 April 1917 in Hampstead. He joined the RAF and began flying training at the de Havilland School of Flying, White Waltham and passed out on 16 November 1936. After completing his training at No 10 Flying Training School at Ternhill flying Hawker Hart and Audax biplanes, he was posted, in July 1937, to Sutton Bridge for gunnery training.

He joined No 72 Squadron in August 1937 and was then posted as a flight commander to No 249 Squadron in May 1940. On 16 August 1940 (the same day RAF Tangmere was heavily bombed by the German Luftwaffe), his Hurricane was shot down by Bf 109s over Southampton. Wounded in the left foot and with a Perspex splinter through his left eyelid he prepared to abandon his aircraft. A Bf 110 appeared ahead of him – he returned to his seat and in spite of the flames in the cockpit, he continued to fire at the enemy fighter until it became impossible to remain. He bailed out with a wounded foot, severely burned parts of his face and hands and with his left eyelid almost severed. To add to his problems, near the ground, he was fired upon by members of the Home Guard and was further wounded in the buttocks by shotgun pellets.

For this action, Nicolson was recommended for a DFC by his Station Commander but the remarks of Air Vice Marshal Keith Park, AOC No 11 Group, concluded with the following: ‘For this outstanding act of gallantry and magnificent display of fighting spirit, I recommend this Officer for the immediate award of the VICTORIA CROSS’.

In November 1940, he learnt that he had been awarded the Victoria Cross, the only VC to be awarded to a member of Fighter Command in the Second World War.

Vote of thanks by Rotarian Leigh Brewin

The club had the pleasure of listening to Jim Nicolson, the nephew of James Nicolson (born 29/4/17), who was the only RAF fighter pilot awarded the Victoria Cross during WW2.

Nicolson joined the RAF in 1936 and after initial training he was transferred to 72 squadron where he flew Gloster Gladiators and then moved to 249 Squadron at RAF Tangmere where he converted to flying Hawker Hurricanes. On the 16 August 1940 during the Battle of Britain (10 July to 31 October 1940) he was dispatched along with three other Hurricanes to intercept German Luftwaffe aircraft attacking Southampton, when his aircraft was hit by a Messerschmitt Bf110.  His aircraft was hit by four cannon shells, two of which inflicted injuries to his leg and face, while two others hit the engine and fuel tank which burst into flames inflicting severe burns to his legs, hands, neck and face. As he struggled to leave his machine and despite his aircraft being ablaze James saw another Messerschmitt Bf110, managed to get back into his seat, pressed the firing button and continued firing until the enemy plane dived away to destruction. With his aircraft severely damaged and with a raging fire ensuing James managed to jump from his aircraft, opened his parachute over the sea but managed to steer himself over land. During his decent the local Homeguard thought he was from the German aircraft and opened fire with a shot gun, inflicting lead shot pellet damage to James before realising he was an RAF pilot!

Nicolson was awarded the VC on 15 November 1940 when he was only 23 years of age.

Fully recovered from his injuries by September 1941, Nicolson was posted to India during 1942. He was promoted to Squadron Leader and was the commanding officer of 27 Squadron flying Bristol Beaufighters from August 1943 to August 1944. During this time he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.

As a Wing Commander, he was killed on 2 May 1945 flying in an RAF B24 Liberator from 355 Squadron as an observer when the aircraft caught fire over the Bay of Bengal 300 miles from land. His body was never recovered.

Nicolsons VC was eventually sold by his wife for £110,000 and can now be seen in the RAF Museum, Hendon.

In 2015 to commemorate the 75^th anniversary of the Battle of Britain the RAF repainted a modern Eurofighter Typhoon jet aircraft in Second World War colours and applied Nicolson’s name and squadron number GN-A. This aircraft displayed in this format during the year.

This was a very sobering, interesting and entertaining talk by Jim who brought along some memorabilia of his late uncle.