Jacob “Jake” Neisteter
France & Germany Star, Defence Medal, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal (CVSM) and Clasp, 1939-45 War Medal
Royal Canadian Engineers
26 April 1919 – 08 October 2012
Jacob “Jake” Neisteter was born 26 April 1919 in southern Russia. Later that year his father was killed in the Uprising of 1919. His mother remarried but 3 years later she died of typhoid fever. His adoptive father remarried and Jake was so grateful that they kept the adoption valid and gave him the opportunity to come to Canada at the age of 7 years. In 1926 they settled in southern Saskatchewan and then in 1935 the family moved to Winkler. Jake spent the winters of 1937 and 1938 attending the local Bible School in Winkler.
In July 1940, while working in Ontario, he enlisted in the Army and was sent to Camp Petawawa for training. He spent over 5 years serving his country during World War 11 in Italy, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, England and Germany, returning to Winkler in 1945. These are the war medals he received:
After returning from Europe, Jake married Tina Loewen and their marriage was blessed with 3 children…Beverly, Janice & Ron. Later he was also blessed with 2 grandsons and 2 great-grandsons.
Jake’s faith was very important to him, and in 1959 he was baptized upon the confession of his faith. He enjoyed his working career and spent over 21 years at the Winkler Post Office, and later together with his son Ron, started a landscaping business. He was well-known for his jovial character and his volunteer work in the community; he played in the town band, spent many years as a volunteer fire fighter, and loved to lend a hand wherever he could. Jake loved hunting and fishing and was so glad to see that his son, grandson and now his great-grandsons also appreciated these sports. He also enjoyed golf and curling. Although Jake did many things in his life, what he valued most was relationships.
He died at the age of 93 years on 08 October 2012.
Information submitted by Ron and Carol Neisteter
Lance Corporal David Scott Nichol
(no record of awards but these he would have qualified for at a minimum) Pacific Star, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal (CVSM) and Hong Kong Bar, 1939-45 War Medal
Winnipeg Grenadiers, Royal Canadian Infantry Corps
WW II
12 December 1921 – 12 October 1942
David Scott Nichol was born in Bateman, Saskatchewan 12 December 1921. His war records state he was born in 1919, but like many of his peers and his brother Bill as well, they had lied about their age in order to enlist. His Parents, Walter and Olive (Johnston) Nichol moved back to Darlingford shortly after David was born. David was living at home, on the Darlingford farm, when he enlisted. On his enlistment papers he expressed interested in someday running his own garage.
David enrolled with the Winnipeg Grenadiers, a unit that had originated in Morden, Manitoba 01 April 1908 but was re-designated Winnipeg Grenadiers 02 May 1910. The Royal Rifles of Canada and the Winnipeg Grenadiers travelled from Winnipeg to Vancouver by train (CPR) and on 27 October 1941 his Company boarded the PRINCE ROBERT, a converted cruiser bound for Hong Cong, arriving 16 November. Equipment marked for ‘C’ Force was loaded on the ship DON JOSE, but would never reach Hong Kong as it was rerouted to Manila when hostilities commenced. These two units had been provided with minimal training as it was though that they would be required to provide Garrison Duty at Hong Kong. On 08 December 1941 the Japanese invaded Hong Kong and the British and Canadian Forces were soon overwhelmed. The fighting lasted 17 ½ days and at 1515 hrs 25 December 1941, the white flag of surrender was hoisted.
Of the 1975 Canadians, 290 were killed in action, 493 wounded, 264 would die as POW’s of which Lance Corporal David Scott Nichol was one. He lasted until 12 October 1942 and died of Acute Enteritis, an inflammation of the small intestine, which was probably brought on by the starvation diet of very bad food supplied by the Japanese. Lance Corporal David Scott Nichol is buried at the Sai Wan War Cemetery.
In keeping with its custom, the Manitoba Government named a provincial body of water in his memory in 1957, Nichol Lake is northeast of North Knife Lake, Manitoba.
Private David Scott Nichol
Canadian Infantry (Manitoba Regiment)
8th Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force
WW I
David Scott Nichol was born 02 January 1888 and his birth was registered in the South Dufferin Manitoba, which was the Darlingford designation at that time. His parents were Martin and Catherine (Scott) Nichol of Darlingford.
David enlisted on 06 November 1915 in Winnipeg and listed his occupation as farmer. He sailed from Canada to Liverpool on the Titanic’s sister ship the SS Olympic with his brother Walter 31 May 1916. Prior to his enlistment he had been dating Olive Johnston off Thornhill, after his death she later married his brother Walter.
In 1916, while stationed in England, he wrote a letter to Olive mentioning he still had some of last year’s wheat at his brother Tom’s farm in Saskatchewan that his brother had not yet been able to haul to market for him.
On 28 April 1917 the Canadian Infantry (Manitoba Regiment) of the 8th Battalion, of which Private Nichol was a member, attacked Arleux over a low rise, but was hit by “heavy automatic fire from the town and the woods to the south. Their centre company lost all of its officers and was held up by barbed wire; the two flank companies managed to gain their objectives on schedule, midway between Arleus and the village of Fresnoy. Private Nichol was killed in action and the records list the location of his unit at time of casualty as “attack just north of Willerval to Arleux En Gohelle.”
A Morden Times entry dated 31 May 1917, Darlingford column, speaks of his life and service; “No more popular and energetic young man donned the King’s uniform than “Dave” Nichol, and bereaved parents, brothers and sisters have the sincere sympathy of the whole community. But we know they do not mourn as they who have no hope, as he left the assurance before enlisting that whatever took place all was well and he was prepared. A memorial service was held in the Presbyterian Church here Sunday, May 20th, when sixty members of the O.O.F. turned out to do honour to their departed brother. Thus inside of one year the three cousins David Nichol Scott, David Scott Borthwich and David Scott Nichol are laid away under the wooden crosses in France.”
David Scott Nichol is buried in France near Arras, with the Veterans Affairs listing the cemetery as the Vimy Memorial, Pas de Calais, France. He is commemorated on Page 301 of Canada’s First World War Book of Remembrance.
Information supplied by Kenneth Nichol, Library and Archives Canada, Pembina Manitou Archives, Morden Times 1917-05-31