Harry Nicholls
Lance-Corporal, 3rd Battalion. Grenadier Guards
- Register No.
- 929 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Lance-Corporal (register: Lance Corporal) all Lance-Corporals →
- Unit
- 3rd Battalion. Grenadier Guards all Grenadier Guards VCs →
- Date of action
- 21 May 1940 on this day → all of 1940 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Second World War
- London Gazette
- 30th July 1940 on this day → all of 1940 →
- Born
- 21st April 1918 at Nottingham
- Died
- 11th September 1975 at Leeds in Yorkshire
- Memorial / grave
- at Southern Cemetery, Nottingham
Digest of citation
Close to the River Escaut in Belgium, Lance-Corporal Nicholls, on 21st May 1940, continued to lead the section, although wounded in the arm by shrapnel, in a counter-attack against superior enemy opposition. In the advance over a ridge, the situation became critical. Rushing forward, he put three German machine guns out of action. He continued his attack, over a second ridge, against a massed enemy infantry, until all his ammunition had gone. He was wounded around four times but refused to stop until all his effort was spent. He was then taken prisoner
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
NICHOLLS, Harry. (reg No. 929).
Lance-Corporal. 3rd Battalion. Grenadier Guards.
London Gazetted on 30th July 1940.
Born on 21st April 1918 at Nottingham.
Died on 11th September 1975 at Leeds in Yorkshire.
Memorial on grave at Southern Cemetery, Nottingham.
Digest of Citation reads: Close to the River Escaut in Belgium, Lance-Corporal Nicholls, on 21st May 1940, continued to lead the section, although wounded in the arm by shrapnel, in a counter-attack against superior enemy opposition. In the advance over a ridge, the situation became critical. Rushing forward, he put three German machine guns out of action. He continued his attack, over a second ridge, against a massed enemy infantry, until all his ammunition had gone. He was wounded around four times but refused to stop until all his effort was spent. He was then taken prisoner.
Additional information:. Lance-Corporal Nicholls was reported "missing believed killed. three" His Victoria Cross was the first one of the war to be Gazetted. (The first person to win the Victoria Cross was Lieutenant Annand. Reg No. 34) Lance-Corporal Nicholls was presented with the Victoria Cross ribbon by the German commandant of the POWs camp in Poland.
Additional information
Lance-Corporal Nicholls was reported "missing believed killed. three" His Victoria Cross was the first one of the war to be Gazetted. (The first person to win the Victoria Cross was Lieutenant Annand. Reg No. 34) Lance-Corporal Nicholls was presented with the Victoria Cross ribbon by the German commandant of the POWs camp in Poland.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: at Southern Cemetery, Nottingham
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