NICHOLSON, Joseph Lee James

NAME             NICHOLSON          Joseph Lee James
RANK             Lance Corporal       139028
                       I Canadian Corps - 1st Canadian Infantry Division - 3rd Infantry Brigade                                          REGIMENT    Carleton and York Regiment
                       “faithful to the fatherland”
                       Royal Canadian Infantry Corp                                                                                                      Born               October 30, 1921 - Bluevale - Turnberry Township - County of Huron                                          Died                April 10, 1944          22years   5months
Cemetery       Moro River Canadian War Cemetery - San Donato – Ortona - Chieti - Italy
                       VI     E     11
Parents          Mr. William and Mary Nicholson - Bluevale - Ontario                                                                    Brothers         Allen and John Nicholson - Bluevale - Ontario                                                                            Sisters           Mrs. Daisey Hooper - Bowmanville - Ontario                                                                                                              Mrs. Marg King - Wingham - Ontario

Joseph was born in Bluevale on October 30, 1921. He went to Public School in Bluevale and left school at the end of Grade VIII. He attended Bluevale United Church. His employment before enlistment was a farmer and truck driver for Oshawa Box.

Canada

He went to Toronto on January 21, 1943 to enlist into the Canadian Army and upon enlistment he stood 5' 10" tall and weighed 174 pounds. He had a fair complexion with hazel eyes and brown hair. Private Nicholson was sent to No. 2 District Depot. Three weeks later he was posted to No. 20 Basic Training Centre in Toronto but during his time there he had tonsillitis and was in base hospital between April 13-17. He was posted to No. 10 Canadian Infantry Training Centre at Camp Borden in the middle of April and Taken On Service with the Canadian Army Overseas at the end of the month. In the send half of July he received furlough. On August 23 he travelled east to No. 1 Transit Camp at Debert, Nova Scotia.

Overseas

On August 26 he was Struck off Service of the Canadian Army Canada and embarked from Halifax. The next day he was Taken on Service with the Canadian Army Overseas and on September 1 he disembarked in the UK and reported to No. 5 Canadian Infantry Reinforcement Unit. He trained in Scotland until he was Taken off Strength of the Canadian Army UK and departed for the Mediterranean Theatre. On October 27 he was Taken on Strength with the Canadian Army Mediterranean. He disembarked in Italy on November 8.

In the field

He was posted to the 4th Reserve Battalion in the field on January 24, 1944 and one week later was Taken on Strength with the Carleton and York Regiment. He was promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal on March 1. He was them during the battles of Hill 59 and Cassino II and was involved in the fight for the Gustav Line when he was killed.                                                                                                                                                               The 1st Canadian Infantry Division remained in the Ortona Salient – its units widely dispersed along 7 miles
of front and this ran from the Adriatic coast to Crecchio which became a fortress garrisoned by the 1st Division. There were 3 Brigades kept in the line with two battalions forward.
April was sunny and warm, and the Carleton and Yorks went out on nightly patrols and were subject to
periodic German fire from artillery and mortars. During this period in April the casualties were less than
half of what they were earlier.
On April 9th they were located south-west of Villa Grande and a patrol was sent out to try and eliminate a German outpost and this was a CHICADEE patrol. During the patrol they ran into a German minefield. Lance
Corporal Nicholson was a member of this patrol and during this patrol he was very seriously wounded from a landmine.
Lance Corporal Nicholson was wounded on April 9th and was immediately evacuated to the Regimental Aid Post. His wounds were massive and would prove to be fatal. Upon his arrival at 8 pm he was administered morphine and at 8:45 pm he received 1,000 cc of plasma. At 11:45 pm Lance Corporal Nicholson arrived at No. 1 Field Dressing Station in severe shock. His blood pressure was 58/20 and his pulse was 162 and falling. Just after midnight he received 540 cc of plasma and at 12:30 am he received 540 cc of blood. At 1:50 his blood pressure was 72/28 and and 1 am he received 540 cc of blood. At this time they amputated both of his legs and left arm near the shoulder. At 2:15 am his blood pressure was 64/20, his pulse was 150 and he was breathing 32 times a minute. At 2:25 am he was again given 540 cc of plasma and again at 3:20 am. He died from his traumatic wounds at 4:20 am on the morning of April 9, 1944.  He was originally buried at San Vito Chietino.                                                                                                                                                                                           On June 16  1944 his mother Mary received the Memorial Cross. On February 13, 1950 the family received the medals  awarded to Lance Corporal Nicholson which included the 1939-45 Star, the Italy Star, the War Medal and the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal.

Joseph is honoured and remembered on Brussels Cenotaph and on the Memorial Plaque of Bluevale United Church. He is honoured and remembered on the Virtual Canadian War Memorial. He is honoured and remembered on the Carleton and York Regiment Memorial located in Fredericton - New Brunswick.