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The Author
Stan Nicholls
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
STAN NICHOLLS
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Born
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1st June, 1925 - Woodville South Australia
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Parents
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Hon. Sir Robert Nicholls and Lady Nicholls
(4 children - 3 in the Armed Forces WWII )
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Brother
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Captain David Nicholls OBE RAN (Rtd)
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Cousin
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A.B. J.R. (Jim) Nicholls
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Schools
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Woodville and Prince Alfred College 1939-43
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Military
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P.A.C. Cadet Corps 1939-43. Acting Cadet Lieutenant
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Naval
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Volunteered January 1943, called up June 1943.
New Entry School and Officers Training School at Flinders Naval
Depot.
Joined HMAS Shropshire January/February 1944 - discharged
1946.
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Marriage
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14th February 1947 to Nancy Elvie Parker
2 children - Robert and Judith
3 grandchildren - Andrew,
Cameron and Julia
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Retired
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3rd June 1981 after 30 years as a Manager and Principal Employment
Officer with the Dept. of Labour to National Service.
Involved in the Naval Association SA, Ships Association and the
ex HMAS Canberra and HMAS Shropshire Association
as the Treasurer, Secretary and President for a total period of
20 years.
An amateur naval historian, researched 5-6 years before writing
by hand the History of HMAS Shropshire. Printed
1400 books - all sold. All profits given to the Naval Historical
Society of Australia by our Association through the hard work
of Les (Dave) Birrell.
Naval Commentator during the 1995 Anzac Day March, Adelaide, S.A.
Designed and built 3 Dioramas of Naval Sea Battles.
Still to complete a film about the Last Great Sea Battle in Surigao
Strait on 25th October 1944.
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Hobbies/Interests
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Model-making, Public Speaking, Table Tennis, Tennis, Billiards
and Snooker,Rowing and Playing darts with a pint down at the local.
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Medals - Stan Nicholls
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Stan attending a reception at the Adelaide
Town Hall for the Australian American Association. |
Medals Listed below as pictured, left to right:
1939-45 Star
Pacific Star
1939-45 War Medal
Australian Service Medal 1939-45
Australian Service Medal 1945-75
Dutch War Cross SWP 1942-45
Philippines Liberation Medal
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Gallery - The Many Faces of Stan Nicholls
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Woodville, SA
1929 |
Adelaide Oval
SA Centenary, 1936 |
Prince Alfred College
Army Cadet,
Lieutenant, 1942 |
PA 4145, RAN Cadet
Rating OTS, 1943 |
1944 - On leave after
the Last Great Sea Battle
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1946 - discharged at Port Adelaide, Red Lion
Hotel
Adelaide |
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Why?
I Have been trying to find an excuse to tell this story of "success
or failure" for the last 60 years and then a book came
to light in a second hand bookshop - so over to you - enjoy.
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About why I did not make it to become a Midshipman after completing
the 16 week course in the Officers Training School O.T.S. at
Flinders Naval Depot. Nobody tells you why: My final interview
with the Interviewing Board showed no indication of success
or failure just a brief interview with the O.T.S. Commander
later 'You 3 ordinary seamen are on draft at 0600'.
Well to 3 out of 4 of us at last great news:-
I have just read a book by Naval Officer, John Winton called
"We joined the Navy" and he says it all for us and
I quote:
"An intelligent man never makes a good naval officer.
He embarasses everybody."
Th Board glanced briefly at their President and nodded again.
After all, he had been a naval officer for nearly forty years.
He should know.
Well - That should make us feel a lot better because I thought
a couple of Instructors just didn't like us and in particular,
me.
The fourth cadet rating; he was confirmed as a round rig Petty
Officer and returned to sea. He told me later he was advised
that as a Petty Officer he would be of greater value than as
a junior Sub-Lieutenant.
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