Lieutenant-Colonel Nichol Kingsmill
Highland Light Infantry of Canada

Does not feel able to think and has no confidence that he can carry on. This officer in my opinion has an anxiety state which is associated with the handling of men. His chief fear seems to be the responsibility of sending men and officers out on missions from which he knows they are likely not to return. He is afraid of unnecessary casualties through some error on his part.

(Neuropsychiatrist report, 6 Nov 1944)

Born on 22 December 1906 in London, Ontario, Nicol Kingsmill was a Toronto lawyer and graduate of the University of Toronto and RMC. He was son of Lieutenant-Colonel Walter Bernard Kingsmill (1976—1950), commanding officer of the 123rd Battalion in the First World War. The younger Kingsmill served with the Canadian Officer Training Corps and the Royal Regiment of Canada before returning to Canada in January 1942 with an appointment to be a brigade major in the 6th Division.

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