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Auction: 20001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - conducted behind closed doors
Lot: 951

(x) A fine 'Special Operations' group of five to Trooper K. R. F. Nicol, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment, late 1st (Royal) Dragoons, who served with No. 3 Commando in the Lofoten Raids and with the Chindits in their 1944 campaign

General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine (1397118 Tpr. K. R. F. Nicol. The Royals.); 1939-45 Star; Burma Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, mounted as worn, good very fine (5)

Kenneth Robert Frederick Nicol was born at Reigate, Kent in 1919. He enlisted into The Honourable Artillery Company before joining the 1st (Royal) Dragoons on 26 June 1938. He served with this regiment in Palestine during the 1936-39 Arab Revolt, but transferred to the 10th (Royal) Hussars on 6 August 1939. Volunteering for special service, Nicol was assigned to No. 3 Commando on 7 July 1940, taking part in 'Operation Claymore', the successful British Commando raid on the Norwegian Lofoten Islands on 4 March 1941. Both No. 3 and 4 Commandos were chosen for the assault, the former under Colonel Durnford-Slater. Transported aboard L.S.I. Queen Emma, they reached the Lofotens on 4 March. The raid was a great success, the combined attacking force destroying 18 cod-liver oil factories (capable of producing nitro-glycerine) and taking around 215 prisoners, in addition to embarking over 300 Norwegians.

Nicol then served in India with the 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment from 29 September 1943. Part of Brodie's 61st Column, 14th ('Javelin') Infantry Brigade, this regiment took part 'Operation Thursday', the Chindit campaign of 1944. Nicol moved to Canada with his family in 1956, becoming a constructional engineer. A member of the Burma Star Association, he died in London, Ontario in 1989; sold with the recipient's Burma Star Association membership booklet.


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Sold for
£650

Starting price
£170