Marine Donald Nicholson was awarded the Military Medal in recognition of gallantry, leadership and undaunted devotion to duty during the assault on the Island of Walcheren. Member of the Commando Association from Rustington, West Sussex.

LVT Birmingham (Landing Vehicle Tracked) aboard LCT 1133 (Landing Craft Tank) was hit in the engine room by shell fire from a coastal battery and so was unable to leave the craft. This shell caused an outbreak of fire, the flames from which caused a second fire in the hold of the LVT which contained 57,000 rounds of .303 Mk V111Z, five Royal Engineer explosive packs, and ammunition for the LVT's Brownings. 

While the Browning ammunition was exploding Mne. Nicholson remained alone in the hold of the LVT, throwing out inflammable material and ammunition and so eliminated the danger to the lives of three wounded men in the cabin of the wheelhouse of the LCT, one of whom could not be moved to a safer place.

Later LCT 1133 hit a mine which threw several men into the sea. Mne Nicholson, disregarding the enemy fire, alone rescued two of these men, one of whom had two broken ankles.