 Nicholson became commanding officer of the cruiser HMS "Hyacinth" in August 1905, of the cruiser HMS "Hermes" in December 1905 and of the battleship HMS "St Vincent" in 1910.He went on to be commanding officer of the battleship HMS "Conqueror" in 1912 and Commodore of His Majesty's Yachts in 1913.He served in World War I as commanding officer of HMS "Agincourt" in the Grand Fleet from 1914.