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 Nichola Goddard.
Born to British and Canadian school teachers in Madang, Papua New Guinea, Nichola Goddard spent most of her childhood in various locations, including Black Lake and Lac La Ronge, Saskatchewan. She attended Jr. High in Edmonton, Alberta, and High school in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. Nicknamed "Carebear", by her ski team in Nova Scotia, her hobbies included cross-country skiing and running, and she had competed in biathlon events. She led a local Scout troop with her fiancé (later husband), Jason Beam, while they were officer cadets at the Royal Military College, in Kingston, Ontario and owned two dogs and two cats.
Captain Goddard arrived in Afghanistan in January 2006, and had been serving with Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry as a forward observation officer at the time of her death; her parent unit was the 1st Regiment Royal Canadian Horse Artillery.
The Battle
Nichola was killed on May 17, 2006, during a firefight in the Panjwaye District. It was part of a joint two-day operation between Canadian and Afghan troops, to secure Kandahar's outskirts after a rumor of Taliban preparations to launch an assault on the city. As troops were moving into a mosque to capture 15 alleged Taliban members, several dozen hidden militants began firing from neighbouring houses. As a crew commander, she was standing half-exposed in her LAV III, which was hit by two rocket-propelled grenades early in the battle. The battle ended after approximately 45 minutes, shortly after an American B-1 Lancer dropped a 225kg bomb. In the end, the two-day operation saw Nichola, an Afghan National Army soldier, and 40 Taliban killed, as well as approximately 20 Taliban captured, which early reports mistakenly said could have included Mullah Dadullah.
After effects
Prime Minister Stephen Harper was the first to mention the death, opening a Parliamentary debate hours later, stating that he wasn't certain it was a "first" female combat death for Canada, and that he wouldn't release her name until her husband had been notified.
It was later announced that her husband Jason Beam would be the first widower to receive the Memorial Cross.[2] The Memorial Cross (also known as the Silver Cross) has traditionally been presented to widows and mothers of Canadian war dead.
She was also posthumously awarded the Meritorious Service Medal on Oct 27, 2006
After Nichola's death, policies have changed on the traditions of presenting the Memorial Cross to widows or mothers of the ones killed. Now, members of the Canadian Forces are required to choose who will receive the Memorial Cross(es) (a maximum of three).
Tributes
- Nichola Goddard's name has been etched on the Memorial Arch at Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ontario
- Classmates and Friends of Capt. Nichola Goddard at Royal Military College of Canada remembered her in the e-veritas alumni magazine
- Light Up Papua New Guinea is an international development project of Light Up The World and the family of Capt. Nichola Goddard in her honour. The goal is to install non-polluting solar-powered lighting systems in 1,100 first aid posts across Papua New Guinea - replacing hazardous kerosene lamps.
- Captain Nichola K.S. Goddard Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o The Faculty of Education, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive N.W., Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4.
- A tree was planted in memory of Captain Nichola Goddard at Fish Creek Provincial Park.
- The Captain Nichola Goddard Memorial Trophy awarded to the top CF Women's Soccer Team performing in the CF regional tournament. The 2008 champions are the Atlantic Team.
- Captain Nichola K.S. Goddard Memorial Sword is presented to the best Regular Officer Training Plan artillery senior cadet at Royal Military College of Canada to carry in their fourth year.
- New playground in Sault Ste Marie, Ontario honours fallen soldier; Modernized grounds to be dedicated as Capt. Nichola Goddard Park (photo here)
The Return Home
The family arranged for a public funeral at St. Barnabas Anglican Church in Calgary, held on Friday May 26th, 2006. She is buried in Ottawa's National Military Cemetery.
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September 1, 2010
Sunray
 Valerie Fortney of The Calgary Herald was awarded a contract to write Sunray for Key Porter Books. The book is now available for purchase.
ISBN# 155470300X
Order this book:
Indigo/Chapters | Amazon | Independent |
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