Boxes 1 and 2: Logbooks as midshipman on HMS MAGNIFICENT, HMS VICTORIOUS and HMS HIBERNIA, 15 January 1904 to 14 March 1907 (2 volumes). Notebooks for mathematics, physics, mechanics, navigation and wireless telegraphy at the Royal Naval College, circa 1907 (8 volumes).
Box 3: Photograph album covering the early part of Nicol's career, including photographs of the repair ship HMS ASSISTANCE aground in Tetuan Bay, Morocco, October 1905. Notebooks and diaries circa 1907-1921 (6 volumes). Night Order Books while serving on HMS ROMOLA in 1916-1918 and HMS DRAGON in 1925 (4 volumes).
Box 4: Accounting forms and receipts listing secret and confidential books supplied by the District Intelligence Office at Portsmouth to HMS UNDINE, 1922. Papers from the period of Nicol's command of HMS WILD SWAN, concerning the firing of depth charges for an exercise, his method of searching for a Bolshevik steamer in the Black Sea, and the unsatisfactory behaviour of Gunner (T) Frederick Watling, 1923. Standing orders, reports, remarks on inspections and other papers relating to his command of HMS WALRUS, HMS WILD SWAN and HMS WRYNECK in the Mediterranean, 1920-1926 (2 files). Record of evidence and warrant for the detention of Ordinary Seaman Arthur Willoughby after an incident of theft on HMS WRYNECK, 1926. Postcard size photograph of HMS WRYNECK screening the fleet. Official photographs of a visit by the Prince of Wales, report on the working of the Canteen Laundry, invitation card for theatricals, programme for boxing championships, all relating to the RN Barracks, Portsmouth, 1929-1930.
Box 5: Certificates and other papers regarding shares, investments and tax, circa 1922-1929 (3 envelopes). Typescript meeting minutes and membership lists for the Admiralty Golfing Society, 1929-1930. Envelope with catalogue and reproductions of paintings of clipper ships by Jack Spurling.
Oversize folder: Certificate appointing Nicol as sub-lieutenant, dated 10 January 1908, mounted on card.
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Administrative / biographical background
Nicol was born at Swansea and became a cadet at HMS Britannia in 1902. He was a midshipman on the battleships HMS MAGNIFICENT, HMS VICTORIOUS and HMS HIBERNIA in the period 1904-1907. He passed as lieutenant and qualified for command of torpedo craft in 1909. He served on the cruiser HMS MINOTAUR on the China station and was in command of TB37 on the West River at Hong Kong in 1912-1914. During the First World War he had a series of commands of destroyers including HMS ROMOLA and HMS WALRUS. His later commands included the destroyers HMS UNDINE, HMS WILD SWAN and HMS WRYNECK. He was promoted to the rank of commander in 1923 and placed on the retired list as captain in 1934. He was back on active service in 1939 and his appointments during the Second World War included command of the base ship HMS EDINBURGH CASTLE and the shore establishment HMS Eland at Freetown, Sierra Leone.