Alan Nicholson was born at Union Road (Lot 51), Prince Edward Island on 1 September 1909. In June 1928 he enlisted with the P.E.I. Light Horse and was promoted to sergeant the following month. He was commissioned with the unit in 1934 and became 1st Lieutenant in 1936. With the outbreak of World War II, he went into active service with D Company of the North Nova Scotia Highlanders and was posted overseas in July 1941 with the West Nova Scotia Regiment. He was involved in the Canadian offensive in Italy and lost a leg when wounded after crossing the Foglia River. Returning to Prince Edward Island he was appointed Regional Director of the newly created Family Allowances service in December 1944 and ran the new office located In the old telephone building at 59 Queen Street for ten years. In January of 1954 he became the director of Family Allowances and Old Age Pensions in Fredericton, New Brunswick where he died on 27 December 1967.