William Henry Snyder Nickerson

He crossed a field of fire to remain with a wounded soldier.

William Henry Snyder Nickerson was born on 27 March 1875 in Dorchester, New Brunswick, Canada, and moved to Britain as a child. He studied at Portsmouth and Manchester grammar schools and Owens College, qualifying in medicine in 1896. He joined the Royal Army Medical Corps on 27 July 1898.

During the Second Boer War, Nickerson served with mounted infantry in South Africa. On 20 April 1900 near Wakkerstroom, a wounded soldier lay exposed to rifle and shell fire. Nickerson went forward, dressed his injuries and remained until the man could be carried to safety. This action earned the Victoria Cross, announced in the London Gazette on 12 February 1901, issue 27283.

He continued his medical career through postings in Egypt, Sierra Leone and India. During the First World War he served with British forces on the Western Front and later in Salonika. He was Mentioned in Despatches three times during that war, appointed Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George in 1916, and appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath in 1919. Historical records also identify a Greek Medal for Military Merit, Third Class; its British authorised-wear status remains under review.

Promoted to Major-General in 1925, Nickerson became Director of Medical Services in India in 1929. He later held a senior ceremonial appointment in the Royal Army Medical Corps. In retirement he undertook medical and home-defence work during the Second World War, although his individual eligibility for medals from that period remains unconfirmed.

Nickerson died at Cour, Kintyre, Scotland, in 1954 and was buried in the private family grounds. His Victoria Cross honours the courage of medical personnel who face danger to save others.