henry james nicholas

Henry James Nicholas (VC, MM) was a New Zealander recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Details

He was 26 years old, and a Private in the 1st Bn., Canterbury Infantry Regiment, New Zealand Expeditionary Force during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC. On 3 December 1917 at Polderhoek, Belgium, Private Nicholas, who was one of a Lewis gun section which was checked by heavy machine-gun and rifle fire from an enemy strong-point, went forward followed by the remainder of his section at an interval of about 25 yards, shot the officer in command of the strong-point and overcame the remainder of the garrison of 16 with bombs and bayonets, capturing four wounded prisoners and a machine-gun. He captured the strong-point practically single-handed and thereby saved many casualties. Subsequently he went out and collected ammunition under heavy machine-gun and rifle fire. He was killed in action, Vertigneul, France, on 23 October 1918.