Jeff Nicklin
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant-Colonel Jevon Albert "Jeff" Nicklin OBE (c. 1915 – March 24, 1945) was a Canadian soldier and football
player. He was one of the first Canadians to jump on D-Day
and to jump into German territory. Nicklin was killed during the latter action.
was born in about 1915, the son of Percy Harold Nicklin and Eva Louise Nicklin. He played Canadian football
as a back with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers
from 1934 to 1940. In 1935, Winnipeg became the first Western team to capture the Grey Cup
. While Nicklin was there, the club advanced to the Grey Cup twice more in 1937
and 1938
, before losing in the finals. In 1939, Winnipeg returned to capture the 27th Grey Cup
by defeating the Ottawa Rough Riders
. Nicklin received Western all-star honors as an end in 1937 and 1938, and as flying wing in 1939.
, Manitoba
. Nicklin was one of the first Canadians to jump on D-Day
and later one of the first to jump into Germany.
On D-Day, he landed in the midst of a German position at Varaville. His parachute was ensnared on a rooftop, and he received fire from German soldiers before he cut himself free and took cover. He eventually rejoined his unit, and was later wounded by shrapnel. He took command of 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion
just before November 1, 1944.
He was killed in action on March 24, 1945 During an airborne assault across the Rhine northwest of Wesel
as part of Operation Varsity
, Nicklin's parachute became tangled in a tall tree, and as he attempted to free himself, he was shot and killed by German soldiers. He is now buried in Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery
. He left a widow, Mary Eileen Nicklin, in Port Credit, Ontario
. On July 12, 1945 it was announced that he had been appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire, "in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in North-West Europe (to be dated the 30th June, 1945)". The original recommendation for the honor describes how he was able to "rectify certain aspects of the B[attalio]n's life which were not satisfactory" and credited him with "the smooth working and unparalleled success which has met the inclusion of a Canadian B[attalio]n in a British Brigade", the recommendation concludes, "throughout the present campaign his example of courageous leadership has been an example to all who have come into contact with him."
for the Canadian Football League
West Division
's most valuable player is named in his honor. Nicklin was inducted into the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame in 2004. Sportswriter Vince Leah placed Nicklin atop his list of all-time greatest Winnipeg players in A History of the Blue Bombers.
Canadian football
Canadian football is a form of gridiron football played exclusively in Canada in which two teams of 12 players each compete for territorial control of a field of play long and wide attempting to advance a pointed prolate spheroid ball into the opposing team's scoring area...
player. He was one of the first Canadians to jump on D-Day
D-Day
D-Day is a term often used in military parlance to denote the day on which a combat attack or operation is to be initiated. "D-Day" often represents a variable, designating the day upon which some significant event will occur or has occurred; see Military designation of days and hours for similar...
and to jump into German territory. Nicklin was killed during the latter action.
Football career
The native of WinnipegWinnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
was born in about 1915, the son of Percy Harold Nicklin and Eva Louise Nicklin. He played Canadian football
Canadian football
Canadian football is a form of gridiron football played exclusively in Canada in which two teams of 12 players each compete for territorial control of a field of play long and wide attempting to advance a pointed prolate spheroid ball into the opposing team's scoring area...
as a back with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are a Canadian football team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They are currently members of the East Division of the Canadian Football League . They play their home games at Canad Inns Stadium, and plan to move to a new stadium for the 2012 season.The Blue Bombers were founded...
from 1934 to 1940. In 1935, Winnipeg became the first Western team to capture the Grey Cup
23rd Grey Cup
The 23rd Grey Cup was played on December 7, 1935, at Hamilton Amateur Athletic Association Grounds, with 6,405 fans in attendance. It marked the first time that a team from west of Ontario won the cup....
. While Nicklin was there, the club advanced to the Grey Cup twice more in 1937
25th Grey Cup
The 25th Grey Cup was played on December 11, 1937, before 11,522 fans at Varsity Stadium at Toronto.The Toronto Argonauts defeated the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 4 to 3....
and 1938
26th Grey Cup
The 26th Grey Cup was played on December 10, 1938, before 18,778 fans at Varsity Stadium at Toronto.The Toronto Argonauts defeated the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 30 to 7....
, before losing in the finals. In 1939, Winnipeg returned to capture the 27th Grey Cup
27th Grey Cup
The 27th Grey Cup was played on December 9, 1939, before 11,738 fans at Lansdowne Park at Ottawa.The Winnipeg Blue Bombers defeated the Ottawa Rough Riders 8 to 7....
by defeating the Ottawa Rough Riders
Ottawa Rough Riders
The Ottawa Rough Riders were a Canadian Football League team based in Ottawa, Ontario, founded in 1876. One of the oldest and longest lived professional sports teams in North America, the Rough Riders won the Grey Cup championship nine times. Their most dominant era was the 1960s and 1970s, a...
. Nicklin received Western all-star honors as an end in 1937 and 1938, and as flying wing in 1939.
Military service
Nicklin served in the Canadian Army during the Second World War, and worked his way up through the ranks from private. In 1942, he deployed to Europe with the Royal Winnipeg Rifles. He was promoted to lieutenant-colonel on November 10, 1944. Nicklin received parachute training at Fort Benning, Georgia, and then returned to Canada to establish the country's first parachute unit at Camp ShiloCFB Shilo
Canadian Forces Base Shilo is an Operations and Training base of the Canadian Forces, located east of Brandon, Manitoba. During the 1990s, Canadian Forces Base Shilo was also designated as an Area Support Unit, which acts as a local base of operations for south-west Manitoba in times of military...
, Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
. Nicklin was one of the first Canadians to jump on D-Day
D-Day
D-Day is a term often used in military parlance to denote the day on which a combat attack or operation is to be initiated. "D-Day" often represents a variable, designating the day upon which some significant event will occur or has occurred; see Military designation of days and hours for similar...
and later one of the first to jump into Germany.
On D-Day, he landed in the midst of a German position at Varaville. His parachute was ensnared on a rooftop, and he received fire from German soldiers before he cut himself free and took cover. He eventually rejoined his unit, and was later wounded by shrapnel. He took command of 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion
1st Canadian Parachute Battalion
The 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion was formed in July 1942 during the Second World War; it served in North West Europe. Landing in Normandy on D Day, June 6, 1944 and in the airborne assault crossing of the River Rhine, Operation Varsity...
just before November 1, 1944.
He was killed in action on March 24, 1945 During an airborne assault across the Rhine northwest of Wesel
Wesel
Wesel is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is the capital of the Wesel district.-Division of the town:Suburbs of Wesel include Lackhausen, Obrighoven, Ginderich, Feldmark,Fusternberg, Büderich, Flüren and Blumenkamp.-History:...
as part of Operation Varsity
Operation Varsity
Operation Varsity was a successful joint American–British airborne operation that took place toward the end of World War II...
, Nicklin's parachute became tangled in a tall tree, and as he attempted to free himself, he was shot and killed by German soldiers. He is now buried in Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery
Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery
The Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery and Memorial is located about three kilometers north of the village of Groesbeek, Netherlands. The cemetery contains 2,338 Canadian soldiers of World War II....
. He left a widow, Mary Eileen Nicklin, in Port Credit, Ontario
Port Credit, Ontario
Port Credit is found at the mouth of the Credit River on the north shore of Lake Ontario, within the southcentral area of the city of Mississauga...
. On July 12, 1945 it was announced that he had been appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire, "in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in North-West Europe (to be dated the 30th June, 1945)". The original recommendation for the honor describes how he was able to "rectify certain aspects of the B[attalio]n's life which were not satisfactory" and credited him with "the smooth working and unparalleled success which has met the inclusion of a Canadian B[attalio]n in a British Brigade", the recommendation concludes, "throughout the present campaign his example of courageous leadership has been an example to all who have come into contact with him."
Legacy
The Jeff Nicklin Memorial TrophyJeff Nicklin Memorial Trophy
The Jeff Nicklin Memorial Trophy is a trophy awarded to the Canadian Football League West Division's Most Outstanding Player, chosen from the nominees from each team in the division...
for the Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
West Division
Canadian Football League West Division
The West Division is one of the two regional divisions of the Canadian Football League. Although the CFL was not founded until 1958, the West Division and its clubs are descended from earlier leagues.-Pre-1936:...
's most valuable player is named in his honor. Nicklin was inducted into the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame in 2004. Sportswriter Vince Leah placed Nicklin atop his list of all-time greatest Winnipeg players in A History of the Blue Bombers.