Roy Nicolle, No.5 Commando

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 10/12/2016 14:35:53

One of the great privileges of my voluntary roles of CVA Researcher & Forum Administrator, is that I am in contact with so many wonderful people on a daily basis.
Most are relatives of commandos looking for information but some are the veterans themselves, who have become valued sources of information regarding The Commandos.
One such veteran, whom I am extremely honoured to consider as a friend, is Roy Nicolle, No.5 Commando.

Roy contacted me by email a number of years ago and since then has given me all sorts of facts about The Commandos, 3 Commando Brigade and No.5 Commando in particular. Every question I asked would trigger more memories and, in the end, I suggested that he should entrust his memoirs to paper. He rather liked the idea but insisted that it was me who should compile his memoirs into a booklet.

This I have done and copies of the booklets have been distributed around his delighted family - who, of course, had no idea about what Roy did during the WWII.

Last month Roy informed me that his devoted wife, Joyce, had been away for a week visiting their family leaving him to fend for himself in their Guernsey home. Roy told me, "it was a week of fry-ups, reading at the table and being in sole charge of the remote control..."

I replied that it was about time he sent me a recent photo of himself otherwise I would write to Joyce and tell her of his fry-ups etc.

The only other photo I have of Roy is one he sent me, "to scare your grandchildren with". The original was black & white but I added colour and Joyce has now got a framed copy of the colour version on her piano.

Incidentally, if anyone is wondering why Roy has the Red Hackle of the Black Watch in his beret - Roy was from Guernsey and, as there was no compulsory call-up on the Channel Islands, islanders who volunteered to join the British Army were given a free choice which regiment they wanted to join. Roy, having never stepped foot in Scotland, chose the Royal Highland Regiment (The Black Watch)!

Nick

Hello Nick

That is a wonderful story and a very nice photo of Roy.
Your experience is one that has been recited to me many times over the past 10 years since the creation of the web-site.
Many folk and family members have found photo's and documents relating to their father or grandfathers time in the Commandos for the very first time in our archives.

Like yourself many have also made great friends by contact made through the forum.

The intention is to carry forward the history of that generation of unique and brave individuals, the Commandos, so that it is never forgotten. The friendships and and wonderful liaisons it has created is a wonderful bonus and a very rewarding one.

'When shall their glory fade'

John M

Nick, like the story as I have made a similar project, got six A4 booklets printed whilst in America last month at Staples, all for free but that's another story. Also like the re-colouring, who did the colouring?
Kevin

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 10/12/2016 12:26:57

Hi Kevin,

Kevin wrote:. Also like the re-colouring, who did the colouring?
Kevin

I added the colour. I had no idea about the colour of Roy's hair and eyes so tried to work it out working on the tones of the original photo! Apparently, I was spot on - even the eyes were just right!

The photo editing software I use is Serif Photo Plus.

http://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/5/Roy_Nicolle_20001.jpg.html

Nick