FUSIL ÉCOSSAIS DE LA SUBLIME ÉCOLE DES ANSON ÉCOSSAIS D'AVANT GUERRE, POUR CEUX QUI SERAIENT INTÉRESSÉS PAR L'HISTOIRE SE RÉFÉRER À L' ARTICLE THE FIELD "BOXLOCKS IN SCOTS STYLE" 1 février 2011
HISTORIQUE DE L'ARME (EN ANGLAIS)
This gun was given to me by my beloved and favourite uncle, Captain Godfrey Nichols, DSO, MVO. He had a remarkable and distinguished career in the Royal Navy, starting his training at the Britannia Royal Navy College in Dartmouth. He left to go straight into battle in World War 1. He rapidly rose through the ranks and in the 1930s, when about to achieve the rank of Captain, he was posted to be Navigating Officer in the Royal Yacht Britannia and until shortly before the outbreak of the Second War, served there under three Monarchs. His service in this war was again outstanding including service through the Pacific War, commanding HMAS Shropshire. The great heat by day was often over-powering, but this remarkable gymnast (in his youth) knew that physical fitness of his men was paramount to their performance in battle; each morning at first light, so whilst still cool, he would direct a brief daily gym session on deck for the whole ship's company, under his personal direction! I later learned from my school maths master, who had served under him as a senior officer, that my uncle was greatly loved and respected by the whole ship's company and would have followed him wherever he led them.
