At 1545 hrs on 5 Nov. 1944, 'Y' Troop, 41 (RM) Commando, as part of a Commando attack, assaulted Battery W.18 at Domburg on Walcheren which contained some 200 Germans. During the fighting in the battery, Cpl. Nightingale was forward with his section officer and one other marine. They were heavily engaged by enemy M.G. and rifle fire from the surrounding woods and the marine was killed and the officer seriously wounded.

Cpl. Nightingale attempted to carry on the fire-fight with his Bren gun but this fired only a few rounds and stopped. Cpl. Nightingale seized a captured German MG 34 and continued to fire this until the enemy was forced to withdraw. After a while the enemy counter-attacked in a determined manner but Cpl. Nightingale once again drove them to ground and alone held on to this flank until remnants of his section were able to advance and join him.

Through this NCO's personal disregard for safety, and his determination to kill the enemy, the troop was able to hold on to the position [1a].

Post war Frank worked as a Bus Conductor for London Transport and was a member of the Commando Association. Emigrating in the early 1960's Frank spent the rest of his life in Australia. He was actively involved in Australian veterans activities and often returned for reunions, including visits to Middleburg in the Netherlands for Walcheren. He was Vice President of the RM Association of South Australia in the 1980's..