Welcome to John Nichol's Website

During 15 years’ service in the Royal Air Force John Nichol flew Tornadoes in both the Air Defence and Ground Attack roles. On active duty during the first Gulf war in 1991 he was shot down on the first low-level, daylight raid of the conflict. Captured and tortured, he was paraded on television provoking worldwide condemnation and leaving one of the enduring images of that war. He returned to active duty and was involved in policing the exclusion zone as part of the UN force maintaining the fragile peace in Bosnia. He has served around the world from the Nevada Desert to the Middle East and Norway to the Falkland Islands.

John has written for all of the UK national newspapers including The Times, The Mail on Sunday and The Guardian and is a widely quoted commentator on military affairs. He has also been a consultant and presenter for Newsnight, BBC News, CNN, World in Action, ITN, Sky News and Cutting Edge. He devised and presented 2 series of Survivors, interviewing newsmakers who have been through life changing experiences. John is a patron of the British Ex-service Wheelchair Sports Association. He is also a very poor golfer.


Conference host & Motivational Speaking

John is in demand to give motivational lectures and after-dinner speeches and has worked with wide variety of businesses including British Telecom, Stockholm School Of Economics, Shell and Lloyds Bank.

TV Reports

Sky News Special Report – The Gulf War: 25 Years On (2nd video)

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Sky News Special Report – The Battle Of Britain Remembered

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John’s new book, THE UNKNOWN WARRIOR – A Personal Journey of Discovery and Remembrance, will be published on 26th September 2024

Over one million British Empire soldiers were killed during the First World War. More than a century later, over half a million still have no known grave

In an emotional and very personal journey, RAF veteran and Gulf War prisoner-of-war John Nichol uncovers the dramatic story of the Unknown Warrior who lies in Westminster Abbey. He reveals the deeply resonant stories of love and sacrifice of that First World War generation, and our nation’s deep-seated and ongoing need to honour, remember and mourn the fallen.

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To accompany the new book, John is embarking on a NATIONWIDE THEATRE TOUR commencing on Thursday 3 October and concluding on Thursday 7 November in the lead-up to Remembrance Sunday. The show will be a revealing and highly emotive experience, retracing the Unknown Warrior’s journey from the battlefields of Northern France to Westminster Abbey to be buried ‘Among the Kings’. The story will be brought to life with haunting visuals, and an arousing sound scape and audiences will be taken back to that intense period of public sorrow and reflection.

FOR THEATRE LOCATIONS AND DATES, VISIT JOHNNICHOLLIVE.COM

Drawing on Nichol’s own experience of combat and the death of colleagues, THE UNKNOWN WARRIOR is above all, a search for the true meaning of camaraderie, sacrifice, and remembrance.

Best Selling Author

John is the author of 16 books including the Sunday Times best-seller Tornado Down which describes his ordeal as a prisoner-of-war during the first Gulf war in Iraq in 1991.

His latest books are works of World War II oral history:

SPITFIRE tells the astonishing story of the iconic British fighter through the stories of the men and women who designed, flew and serviced it. LANCASTER is the definitive account of the legendary British bomber seen through the eyes of the men who flew her into battle.

Latest Book

Eject! Eject! – Escape from the Aircraft is Just the Beginning

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Journalism & Broadcasting

He has written for all of the UK national newspapers including The Times, The Mail on Sunday and The Guardian and is a widely quoted commentator on military affairs. He has also been a consultant and presenter for Newsnight, BBC News, CNN, World in Action, ITN, Sky News and Cutting Edge. He devised and presented 2 series of Survivors, interviewing newsmakers who have been through life changing experiences. John is a member of the The Royal British Legion all-party Gulf War Group and a patron of the British Ex-service Wheelchair Sports Association. He is also a very poor golfer.

Motivational Speaker

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John has written 5 novels, now available to download as E-books