14 Facts About Jeff Nicklin

Lieutenant Colonel Jevon Albert "Jeff" Nicklin OBE was a Canadian Army officer and football player.

Jeff Nicklin fought during World War II and was one of the first Canadians to jump on D-Day, 6 June 1944, and led the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion in the Battle of the Bulge and later when it jumped into German territory in Operation Varsity during the final stages of the war in March 1945.

Jeff Nicklin played Canadian football as a back with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers from 1934 to 1940.

Jeff Nicklin received Western all-star honours as an end in 1937 and 1938, and as flying wing in 1939.

Jeff Nicklin played in the Tea Bowl for the Canadian Army football team against American Army team at White City Stadium on February 13,1944 in London, England.

Jeff Nicklin served in the Canadian Army during the Second World War, and, after enlisting in the Royal Winnipeg Rifles of the Canadian Army in the summer of 1940, he worked his way up through the ranks from private and later was commissioned as an officer.

Jeff Nicklin received parachute training in the United States at Fort Benning, Georgia, and then returned to Canada to establish the country's first parachute unit at Camp Shilo, Manitoba.

Jeff Nicklin became the Commanding Officer of the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion, then serving as part of the 3rd Parachute Brigade of the British 6th Airborne Division, just before November 1,1944 and was promoted to lieutenant colonel on November 10,1944.

Jeff Nicklin was one of the first Canadians to jump on D-Day in June 1944 and later one of the first to jump into Germany.

Jeff Nicklin's parachute was ensnared on a rooftop, and he received fire from German soldiers before he cut himself free and took cover.

Jeff Nicklin eventually rejoined his unit, and was later wounded by shrapnel.

Jeff Nicklin was killed in action on March 24,1945.

Jeff Nicklin is buried in Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery.

Jeff Nicklin left a widow, Mary Eileen Nicklin, in Port Credit, Ontario.