Nicholson displayed what he thought would be the actions of a Vietnam Veteran who was severely affected by  traumatic war time experiences. In attempts to convince family and friends of his war caused Post Traumatic Stress Disorder [PTSD], this violent, abusive, heavy drinker threw beer cans at his TV when war movies were shown ranting that the movies weren't real.  If he heard helicopters outside in the street he would yell "Choppers, choppers" and duck for cover.

A family friend offered to take Nicholson's wife to a Department of Veteran's Affairs office to initiate a pension claim for him but he forbade her to do this because DVA had thrown his claim out years ago.

Last Anzac Day, 25/4/05, Nicholson spent the day at Dandenong, Victoria, Returned Services Leagues Club being bought many beers by patrons who listened to his tales of war service in Vietnam as a Colonel in the SAS.   On the day he told his listeners that he was confined to a wheelchair due to having been shot in the back while serving in Vietnam.  He didn't wear medals because he "had thrown them away" Nicholson claims he was a National Serviceman who rose through the ranks to Colonel but he forgets in which state he was conscripted, sometimes it's NSW and sometimes it's Victoria.

A former AATTV member questioned Nicholson on behalf of the family to ascertain whether he is a Veteran or not. It was determined that Nicholson had never dragged on a boot in his country's service.

Three of his most transparent tales of Vietnam are as told to the Veteran:

1...He had to "rescue" a SAS patrol when they ran into trouble [enemy contact] and during a helicopter rope extraction a Soldier fell to his death but he can't remember any names of those involved. This Soldier is still listed as MIA.

2...He had to rescue his troops who had been caught in ambush. During this incident he had to rescue his current wife's estranged father who had been shot and mortally wounded, this man died in Nicholson's arms.
This lady has since discovered that her father did not serve in Vietnam. Nicholson claims that it was during this 'rescue" that he himself was shot in the back.

3...He had to go and rescue more of his men. After the pilot of the helicopter he was riding in was shot, he flew the aircraft. This aircraft was subsequently shot down and burned causing three Australian lives to be lost. Nicholson stated that this loss of life could have been avoided but the "idiots on the ground stuffed up", one of these Soldiers is still listed as MIA. Nicholson has loosely quoted three incidents that actually happened.

Editors note; An Australian Soldier who was on the ground and killed during this actual helicopter crash in 1971 (No.3) was known to one of our CPMH members. Corporal "Blackie" Blackhurst was the advisor on the ground who Nicholson says "stuffed up" 
Nicholson is the idiot who has "stuffed up" by besmirching the name of a good soldier who died doing his job in trying to save the lives or four Vietnamese Regional Force Soldiers.
There will be no forgiveness shown by this CPMH member, nor by the former AATTV advisor who supplied us with information on Nicholson and knew both Corporal Blackhurst and one of the soldiers listed as MIA. Any apology tendered by Nicholson will be rejected by them and so this story will remain here.

Nicholson had difficulty in remembering where he did his recruit training but states that he was such a good soldier he bypassed Infantry Corps training and was posted directly to Townsville, QLD, to a unit he can't remember the designation of. He was rapidly sent from this unit to SAS as a Colonel and then to Vietnam.   Another version of his tales says he was sent directly from recruit training to a special unit in Vietnam.

Nicholson further stated that he was the Commanding Officer of 3 Cavalry Squadron, an Ordnance unit and D Company 4th Battalion during the cleanup after all Australian fighting troops left Vietnam in 1975. Yes, 1975, this is not a typo.  These units left Vietnam in early 1972.

Did we carry out our normal searches for documents that may support his stories?  No, here's one reason why. He was born in 1958.  National Service conscription finished and the last fighting and advisory troops left Vietnam when he was 14 or 15 years old.
Whether he served in some reserve unit at some time is very doubtful and is not of concern here, our concerns are with his outlandish claims of service in Vietnam.

There is more information on Nicholson and his failure to answer appropriate questions but what you read above should be sufficient for us to brand this fool as a wannabe, he deserves his lifetime entry on this page.

We sent a letter to Nicholson asking for an explanation of his stories and actions but at time of publication no reply had been received directly from him. We did, however, receive an email from someone who telephoned him to ask about his reaction to our letter. This email states, "He says he has nothing to answer to, he says he has never posed as a vet"

There you have it, this spineless bag of excrement felt very comfortable terrorising his family with his garbage and sucking up free beer at the Dandenong RSL but when the hard questions were asked, he went to water. A typical wannabe, a despicable specimen of same.

For those of our readers who think we're kicking a bloke when he's down, think about this. Nicholson had been carrying on with his lies for at least twelve years before he had a stroke.

Naturally, the memories of the former AATTV Veteran and our CPMH member had been vividly awakened due to the exposure of this disgusting wannabe. How does this creature compensate for the dreams they are having right now?   He wouldn't know and would care even less. Sleep well Mr. Nicholson but open your mouth again and you'll find yourself in very deep trouble.

There's a message in this story for our readers. If you know someone who won't allow friends or family to contact the Department of Veteran's Affairs on his or her behalf, that's a big red warning flag.  There's an even chance that you have discovered a wannabe. All Military records over thirty one years old are available. Apply to ref@naa.gov.au  supplying branch of service ie. Army, Navy, Air Force or Reserves, full name, date of birth and service number (if known). Your local RSL or Vietnam Veteran's organisation should be able to assist with a search of the WW II, Korea and Vietnam Veterans nominal rolls.

This is published in the public interest, particularly that of the Vietnam Veteran Community. All information presented here is fact and the truth. Reports from private citizens are supported by statements of fact and statutory declarations.