[3][1] The citation for his MC reads: For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty while in charge of wagon lines and ammunition supply.

[6] Paget's 'Sickleforce' consisted mainly of the 148th Infantry Brigade, a poorly trained and equipped Territorial Army (TA) formation, which had already landed at Åndalsnes and was by that time at the village of Dombås, on the road to the town of Lillehammer, and the 15th Infantry Brigade, a well-trained Regular Army formation which had been part of the 5th Division in France with the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) until being withdrawn for the campaign in Norway.

[6] The 148th Brigade had reached Lillehammer where it encountered the Norwegian Army, commanded by General Otto Ruge, and with which it joined forces.

The 15th Brigade was up to strength with three infantry battalions and fought skillfully in engagements at Kvam, Kjoren and Otta but was forced to withdraw, which it did so in an orderly fashion, causing heavy damage to the Germans who were pursuing them.

[6] Following this disastrous campaign, Nicholson returned to the United Kingdom, where he went to the 18th Infantry Division as its GSO1, a position he held until October when he was promoted to the rank of brigadier and again came into contact with Paget, this time to serve as his deputy while Paget himself was serving as Deputy Chief of the General Staff (DCGS) of Home Forces.

The objective at this time, shortly after the BEF had been evacuated from France along with the French surrender had completely transformed the war situation for the United Kingdom, and the country was preparing itself for a potential German invasion.

[7] [3] In February 1943 Field Marshal Erwin Rommel launched an assault, known as the Battle of the Kasserine Pass, on units of the British First Army in Tunisia.

Nicholson proved an effective combat leader who kept his remaining forces steady under relentless German hammering.