We regret to advise of the death of Sapper William Weldon "Bill" Nicoll, BSc (Ret'd) on 16 December 2017, at Taigh na Mara Nursing Home in Glace Bay NS at the age of 97 years.
Bill was born and grew up in Mira Gut, NS on Cape Breton Island. He was a Royal Canadian Engineer veteran of the Second World War. Bill enlisted in Halifax on 4 December 1941 and took his basic training at No. 62 Canadian Army Basic Training Centre in Charlottetown, PE. From there he went on to A5 Canadian Engineer Training Centre in Petawawa ON to complete his Field Engineer training. He was then assigned to the 20th Field Company who were stationed in Winnipeg at the time. Shortly after his arrival the unit was dispatched overseas and arrived in the United Kingdom in May 1943. In England they continued their training in preparation for the invasion of the Continent.
Bill landed in Normandy on 16 June 1944 and stayed with his unit through France, Belgium, and Holland. He participated in Operation BERLIN (September 24/25) during which British and Polish paratroopers were evacuated under German observation and fire across the Neder Rijn River . He later took part in Operation DUCK during the Battle of the Scheldt when his company was tasked with the ferrying of personnel and equipment using stormboats and, later, Bailey Close Support Rafts. While in Holland, the company completed many bomb disposal tasks including the destruction of V-1 launching sites. When the war ended, they were tasked with the construction of many Bailey Bridges.
Bill returned to Canada in October 1945 and was demobilized. He entered Acadia University in 1946 and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology. He worked for INCO (International Nickel Company) in Thompson, MB for 25 years before retiring to his home in Mira Gut. The French government honoured Bill in 2014 by awarding him the National Order of the Legion of Honour at the rank of Knight.*
In accordance with Bill’s wishes, cremation has taken place and there will be no visitation or funeral service. A private family burial of his ashes will take place at the Mira Bay Baptist Cemetery in Mira Gut, at a later date. Words of comfort can be sent to the family at www.sydneymemorialchapel.ca or e-mail sydneymemorialchapel@ns.sympatico.ca. {dcFeb2019kh}
*Also see: https://cmea-agmc.ca/ww-ii-veteran-sapper-bill-nicoll-presented-french-legion-honour
