William James Murdoch “Bill” Nickerson was born in Calgary, Alberta, on April 18, 1918. Both of Bill’s parents—James Glenwright Nickerson and Grace Murdoch—were Nova Scotia natives. James was born in Clark’s Harbour, Shelburne County, the son of James Lindal and Ruth Nickerson. Grace was born in Sherbrooke, Guysborough County, the daughter of William James and Catherine Ann (MacLean) Murdoch.
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| Warrant Officer 2nd Class William James Murdoch "Bill" Nickerson |
On his mother Grace’s side of the family, Bill was a direct descendant of Alexander Murdoch, born in Macduff, Banffshire, Scotland, around 1777. Alexander later immigrated to Nova Scotia, where he and his wife, Elizabeth McDonald, eventually settled in Stillwater, Guysborough County. Alexander passed away in Sherbrooke on December 26, 1854.
One of Alexander and Elizabeth’s sons, William Alexander Murdoch, was born in Halifax on April 10, 1824, and relocated to the Sherbrooke area with his parents. William A. later rose to prominence in the coastal shipping business along Nova Scotia’s “Eastern Shore.” Ship registration records indicate that he owned and operated at least 10 vessels based in the port of Halifax, beginning in the early 1850s and stretching well into the 1900s—two brigantines, six schooners and two steamers. During that time, ship records gave his address as St. Mary’s River and Sherbrooke.
On December 16, 1853, William A. married Maria J. Nickerson Mahany, a widow, at Halifax. The couple raised a family of seven children in their Sherbrooke home—Emma (1854-1917), Alexander (1856-1922), William James (1858-1923), George (1860-1934), Anna (1862-1946), Gordon (1865-1949), and Charles Ashley (1867-1949).
A Master Mariner by occupation, William A. was perhaps best known as Captain of the coastal steamers Wilfred C. and SS Dufferin. Both vessels provided freight and passenger service between Halifax and Sherbrooke, making stops in several communities along the Eastern Shore—Port Dufferin, Harrigan Cove, Moser River, Ecum Secum, Marie Joseph, Liscomb and Sonora. The ships provided the region with a vital human and economic link to the provincial capital at a time when roads were lacking.
The SS Dufferin was the jewel of William A.’s impressive fleet. Completed in Shelburne, NS, on April 15, 1905, the ship was immediately purchased by William A. and his son William J. as a replacement for the smaller Wilfred C. Equipped with two schooner-rigged masts for use as auxiliary power, the Dufferin provided accommodations for 25 passengers as the vessel completed the overnight journey between Halifax and Sherbrooke. It is believed that the Murdoch family operated the vessel until the late 1920s. Three of William A.’s sons—William J., George and Charles A.—became Master Mariners and captained the SS Dufferin at various times.
In the early 1880s, William A.’s second son and namesake, William James Murdoch, married Catherine Ann MacLean, daughter of Donald MacLean, South River, and Mary MacGrath. At the time of the 1891 census, William J. and Catherine were living in Sherbrooke with their two daughters—Mary Jean “Jeanie,” age seven (DOB March 27, 1884), and Grace, age two (DOB June 11, 1889).
Ship registration records indicate that prior to entering into a partnership with his father, William J. owned at least one vessel, a schooner built and registered in his name in 1895. Two months after William A. purchased the Wilfred C. in September 1898, he sold 32 shares—half ownership in the vessel—to his son William J. The pair operated the steamship along the Eastern Shore route as a cargo and passenger ship until the purchase of the SS Dufferin, which they also co-owned and operated.
On December 12, 1905, William J. and Catherine’s older daughter Jean married Lambert Douglas Densmore, a native of Maitland, NS, who had established a medical practice in Sherbrooke. Dr. Densmore’s father , Robert F., was a sea captain, a background that provided the young physician with a connection to his father-in-law.
The Densmores remained in Sherbrooke until after the First World War. After Lambert returned home from overseas service in France and Belgium with the Canadian Army Medical Corps, the couple and their daughters, Catherine and Grace, relocated to Bathurst, NB, where they lived out their remaining years.
Sometime prior to 1911, a young James Glenright Nickerson arrived in Sherbrooke, where he assumed the position of manager at the local Royal Bank branch. While working in the village, James met Grace Murdoch. The couple married in Sherbrooke on June 1, 1914. By that time, James’ career with the Royal Bank had taken him to Lacombe, near Red Deer, Alberta.
While the newlyweds initially established residence in Lacombe, James’ work eventually took them to several locations across the Canadian West—Calgary, Medicine Hat, Regina, Vancouver and Edmonton. Along the way, Grace gave birth to two sons. Bill, their eldest child, was born in Calgary on April 18, 1918. A second son, Kenneth Glenwright, was born in Medicine Hat in 1924.
Bill Nickerson spent his childhood years in Calgary and Medicine Hat. His father’s work resulted in a move to Regina, Saskatchewan, where Bill completed his elementary education at Davis Public School from 1925 to 1933, and his high school education at Regina Central Collegiate from 1933 to 1937. Following graduation, an adventurous 19-year-old Bill travelled aboard SS Empress of Canada to Hawaii, where he spent the summer.
By 1937, James’ work had taken the family to Vancouver, BC. Upon returning from Hawaii, Bill enrolled at the University of British Columbia, where he completed two years of study in its Bachelor of Arts program. In September 1939, he enrolled in the Pre-Medicine program at the University of Alberta, Edmonton, where the family was residing. The following academic year, Bill entered the first year Medicine program at Dalhousie University, Halifax.
Shortly after Canada’s entry into the Second World War, Bill enlisted with the Non-Permanent Active Militia of Canada at Edmonton on September 27, 1939. During his time at Dalhousie University (September 1940 - May 1941), he participated in the school’s Canadian Officers Training Corps (COTC) program. During the summer of 1941, Bill returned to Edmonton, where he worked as a clerk with T. Eaton & Co.
As the time to return to medical school approached, Bill applied for admission to the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). Recruiters were impressed with his credentials and performance: “A well qualified, well educated, keen lad—has done all tests quickly and accurately.” On October 21, 1941, Bill completed his attestation papers at Edmonton and commenced military service with the rank of Aircraftman 2nd Class.
While awaiting commencement of his training, Bill was assigned to duty at No. 31 Elementary Flight Training School, De Winton, south of Calgary, in mid-December 1941. He was transferred to No. 4 Initial Training School (ITS), Edmonton, on March 1, 1942. While initially selected for the pilot stream, Bill did not perform well in the school’s flight simulator and was re-assigned to the Air Observer/Navigator stream.
Instructors were impressed with Bill’s potential: “Very fine type of trainee. With his educational background he should successfully complete the Observers Course.” He achieved an overall average of 77 % in his coursework, placing 100th in a class of 126 cadets. Promoted to the rank of Leading Aircraftman (LAC) and certified as an Air Observer on April 24, Bill enjoyed several days’ leave before reporting to No. 2 Air Observers School, Edmonton, on May 10.
Over the next six weeks, Bill logged more than 100 hours of flying time aboard an Anson aircraft. While his instructors described him as “an average navigator,” they were impressed by his personality and commitment: “Neat, good natured, exceptionally popular. Has a very jovial nature and a constant laugh. A hard worker.” He achieved an average of 73.3 % in his courses, placing 15th in a class of 21 cadets.
After officially qualifying as an “Air Navigator” on June 25, Bill spent the summer months in Edmonton. On September 11, he was officially promoted to the rank of Temporary Sergeant and received his Air Navigator’s badge. Following the standard two-week pre-embarkation leave, Bill was assigned to 1Y Depot, Halifax, where he awaited orders to proceed overseas.
On October 27, Bill was officially transferred to the Royal Air Force (RAF) Training Pool. The following day, he departed for overseas and disembarked in the United Kingdom on November 4. He immediately travelled by train to No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre, Bournemouth, where he awaited the opportunity to complete the final stage of his training.
After a six-week wait, Bill was assigned to No. 1 (Observers) Advanced Flying Unit (AFU), RAF Wigtown, Scotland, on December 21, 1942. Located to the north of the Irish Sea, the base provided a safe environment for training operations. Over the next two months, Bill honed his navigational skills aboard Avro Anson aircraft while flying over a tracked target range along the coastline southeast of the base.
On February 23, 1943, Bill was transferred to No. 28 Operational Training Unit (OTU), Wymeswold, England, which trained night bomber crews aboard Vickers Wellington aircraft. Bill spent the next three months with the unit. At this stage, personnel were organized into flight crews and given the opportunity to work as a team aboard actual bombers no longer in active service. While stationed at Wymesold, Bill was promoted to the rank of Temporary Flight Sergeant on March 11. Two months later—May 20, 1943—he was posted to 431 (RCAF) Squadron.
During the months that Bill trained in the United Kingdom, British military authorities implemented a significant change in the RAF’s organization. During the war’s early years, RCAF recruits and bomber squadrons were assigned to British (RAF) Groups. As the war progressed and the numbers of trained personnel increased, Canada lobbied the British government for the formation of units that, to the greatest extent possible, were distinctly “Canadian.” The governments of New Zealand and Australia, whose air crews also trained in Canada under the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, had similar aspirations.
In response, in October 1942, the British government agreed to transform its No. 6 Bomber Group into a Canadian branch of the RAF. On January 1, 1943, eight existing RCAF bomber squadrons were officially united under one command as No. 6 (RCAF) Group. While its crews still included British, Australian and New Zealand personnel, the majority of No. 6’s airmen were Canadian. The new structure provided senior RCAF officers with the opportunity to command larger units above the squadron or wing levels of operation.
The newly re-formed No. 6 Group flew its first official combat missions in early January 1943 and expanded to include a total of 14 bomber squadrons as the war progressed. No. 431 (Iroquois) Squadron, formed in November 1942, was among its newest units. Initially assigned to No. 4 Group, 431 joined No. 6 (RCAF) Group at its Tholthorpe, Yorkshire, base in mid-July 1943.
There were several final stages to complete before Bill saw active duty with 431 Squadron. On June 19, he was attached to 4 Group Battle School for one week of instruction. From July 31 to August 25, he was assigned to No. 1664 Conversion Unit, RAF, Croft, where air crews made the transition from the two-engine Wellington to four-engine Lancaster bombers.
On September 11, Bill was promoted to the rank of Warrant Officer 2nd Class. Over the subsequent weeks, he and his mates prepared for active duty with 431 Squadron. The inexperienced crew included personnel from several parts of the British Commonwealth—Pilot Walter Francis Burge, Sydney, Australia; Bomb Aimer John William Potts, Wallasey, Cheshire, UK; Wireless Operator/Air Gunner Brian Charles Paul, Louth, Lincolnshire, UK; Middle/Upper Air Gunner William Carter Gilchrist, Chipperfield, SK; Rear Gunner Douglas Gordon Addison, Otterville, ON; and Flight Engineer Thomas George Roberts, United Kingdom.
On two occasions—October 22 and November 3—Flight Sergeant Burge was second pilot on bombing missions to Germany. A combination of poor weather and training meant that the Squadron conducted no operations for two weeks after Burge’s November 3 mission. A comment in later correspondence states that Bill’s crew had completed two missions prior to mid-November. Unfortunately, the squadron’s September 1943 operations record book is not available, and the crew’s names are not listed in its October 1943 report.
In the early evening hours of November 18, 1943, 18 of 431 Squadron’s Halifax V aircraft departed from Tholthorpe for a bombing raid on Ludwigshafen, Germany. Three planes were forced to turn back, but the remaining aircraft continued toward the target. While the squadron’s November 1943 summary of events described the operation as “successful,” two aircraft failed to return to base. One of the two missing bombers was Halifax V LK632, piloted by Flight Sergeant W. F. Purge.
On November 22, 1943, 431 Squadron’s Wing Commander, W. F. M. Newsom, wrote to Bill’s father James, informing him that his son was missing:
“The loss of your son and other members of the crew is greatly felt by everyone in the Squadron. He was very popular with the boys, especially in the Sergeants’ Mess where he was looked upon as a ‘good fellow.’ We lost one of our best crews when the aircraft did not return for it had already been mapped out for a great future with my Squadron.”
That same day, Wing Commander Newsom wrote to Dr. Densmore, providing him with the same information on his nephew’s fate and stating that “no news has been received from either the crew or aircraft since the time of take-off.”
The squadron received no further information on the missing air crew’s fate until the spring of 1944. In a letter dated April 24, 1944, an RCAF Casualty officer informed James about a recent development:
“…a report has been received from the International Red Cross Society, quoting German information, which states that your son… was buried November 21, [1943,] in the Old Cemetery, Hohen-Sülzen, which is 45 miles [south] west of Frankfurt on Main, Germany…. [S]ince this information comes from enemy sources, it is necessary to consider your son ‘missing, believed killed’ until official confirmation has been received by the Air Ministry, or until the lapse of six months from the date he was reported missing.”
On July 12, 1944, RAF officials informed James and Grace by letter that Warrant Officer Class 2/Navigator William James Murdoch Nickerson was “now ‘presumed dead 18-Nov-41’ for official purposes.” The following month, the RCAF forwarded a “Presumption of Death” certificate to Bill’s parents.
In the years following the war, RAF teams spread out across the continent, in search of the remains of missing air crew. As reported earlier by the International Red Cross, Bill’s grave and those of his crew mates were located in Hohen-Sülzen Cemetery, approximately 10 kilometres west of Worms, Germany. On April 30, 1948, the entire air crew of Halifax V LK632 were re-interred in Rheinberg British Cemetery, Kamp-Linfort, Germany.
On July 6, 1946, James Glenwright Nickerson was named a Member of the Order of the British Empire, in recognition of his contributions to the Canadian Active Service Force (CASF) as a civilian. The exact details of his role in the war effort are not known. He and his wife Grace spent their later years in Vancouver, BC. James passed away on December 13, 1969, while Grace died on August 1, 1977.
James and Grace’s younger son, Kenneth Glenwright Nickerson, studied medicine at the University of Alberta, Edmonton, and McGill University, Montreal, and completed a postgraduate residency at Cornell University, New York. Upon returning to Vancouver in 1955, Ken established a successful obstetrics and gynaecology practice with several other physicians. He later served as a clinical professor at University of British Columbia.
An avid outdoorsman throughout his life, Ken retired to Whistler, BC, with his wife Shirley, where he continued to serve as a volunteer on the community’s famous ski slopes. He passed away in British Columbia at age 85 on March 30, 2010, the result of injuries sustained in an automobile accident.
Information on the Murdoch family’s shipping endeavours obtained from MemoryNS and Ruth Legge’s article, “The Coastal Steamer SS Dufferin.”
Special thanks to Shirley Nickerson, Vancouver, BC, who provided a photograph of Warrant Officer 2nd Class William James Murdoch "Bill" Nickerson.
