[1] During World War II, McNicol served in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) as a pilot.
[5][6] From 1957 to 1960 McNicol was High Commissioner to Singapore, at the time Lee Kuan Yew was moving the country towards independence.
[8] In June 1968 then Minister for External Affairs Paul Hasluck announced McNicol's appointment as Ambassador to Thailand.
[10] In December 1972, then Prime Minister Gough Whitlam appointed McNicol Deputy High Commissioner in London.
[11] In the 1966 New Year Honours, McNicol was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) whilst High Commissioner in Wellington, New Zealand.