Jeff Albert Nicklin
| Jeff Albert Nicklin | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1914-12-10 Fort William, Ontario |
| Died | 1945-03-24 |
| Years in Thunder Bay | by 1914 |
| Occupation | Soldier |
| Father | |
| Mother | |
Jeff Albert Nicklin (10 December 1914 – 24 March 1945 (aged 30)) was a Canadian soldier from Fort William in the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion, R.C.I.C.. Nicklin died on active service during the Second World War.[1]
Early life
Nicklin was born in Fort William on 10 December 1914, the son of Percy Harold Nicklin and Eva Louise Nicklin.[1]
Service
Nicklin enlisted at Winnipeg and served as a lieutenant colonel in the Army, 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion, R.C.I.C..[1]
Death
Nicklin died on 24 March 1945, aged 30. He is commemorated at Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery (grave reference XXII. C. 1.).[1]
Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame
Jeff Nicklin was inducted into the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame in 1996 as an athlete (ceremony date given as 28 September 1996), for football.[2]
The Hall of Fame profile is taken to be about this man: both give a birth in Fort William in 1914 and a death in 1945.[2]
Born in Fort William, Ontario in 1914, Nicklin came from an athletic family. His father, Percy Nicklin, was a Hockey figure in Fort Frances and England, while his grandfather, Albert Reekie, competed for the Rat Portage Rowing Club. Nicklin began his competitive Football career in Manitoba, earning his first major honors with the Winnipeg Deer Lodge Juniors. In 1934, he helped the squad secure the Western Canadian junior title.[2]
In 1935, while still eligible for junior play, Nicklin joined the Winnipeg Seniors. During his debut season, he participated in the Grey Cup, where the Winnipeg side defeated the Hamilton Tigers 18–12. This victory marked the first time a team from Western Canada won the national Canadian Football championship. Nicklin continued with the franchise as it became known as the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, playing from 1936 through 1940. He appeared in the Grey Cup finals in 1937 and 1938 before winning his second national title in 1939.[2]
During the 1939 Grey Cup final against Ottawa, Nicklin played a pivotal role by recovering a fumble with less than three minutes remaining in the game. This turnover led to a field goal that secured the championship for Winnipeg. Known for his speed and strength, he was a versatile player utilized as an end and a flying wing. His performance earned him four consecutive All-Star selections, recognized as an end in 1937 and 1938, and as a flying wing in 1939 and 1940.[2]
Following the conclusion of the 1940 season, Nicklin paused his athletic career to enlist with the Royal Winnipeg Rifles. He rose to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel while serving with the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion. He was among the initial group of Canadian paratroopers to land in France during the war effort. In March 1945, Nicklin was killed in action during the Rhine Airborne assault.[2]
In 1946, the Jeff Nicklin Memorial Trophy was established in his honor. Since 1973, this award has been granted annually to the Most Outstanding Player in the Western Division of the Canadian Football League.[2]
Residence in the Thunder Bay area (by 1914) rests on the following dated evidence. Born in Fort William in 1914, though his earliest dated athletic activities were in Winnipeg starting in 1934.[2]
Achievements listed in the profile:
- Won the Western Canadian junior football title in 1934
- Won the Grey Cup with Winnipeg in 1935 and 1939
- Named a league All-Star as an end in 1937 and 1938
- Named a league All-Star as a flying wing in 1939 and 1940
- Recovered a crucial fumble to set up the winning points in the 1939 Grey Cup
- Reached the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion
- Namesake of the Jeff Nicklin Memorial Trophy established in 1946[2]
Relatives named in the profile:
- Percy Nicklin, a father: Involved in hockey in Fort Frances and England
- Albert Reekie, relative: Grandfather; rower for Rat Portage[2]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Jeff Albert Nicklin", Canadian Virtual War Memorial, Veterans Affairs Canada (Open Government Licence – Canada).
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 "Jeff Nicklin", athlete profile, Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame, https://www.nwosportshalloffame.com/athlete-profile/062b69ad-713d-475a-9f77-5b7f1c26f166 (accessed 31 October 2026). Archived copy on datum.locker.