Major Henry William Nicholls

Service number NX15737, 18026
Ranks Held Captain, Lieutenant, Major
Birth Date 22/07/1920
Birth Place Australia: New South Wales, Sydney, Leichhardt
Final Rank Major
Service Australian Army
Units
  • 2/1st Pioneer Battalion
  • 3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment
  • Services Reconnaissance Department
  • Z Special Unit
Places
Event Operation Agas III
Conflicts/Operations
  • Second World War, 1939-1945
  • Korean War, 1950-1953
Description

Henry William Nicholls, NX15737, MC, 'Z' Special Unit, formerly of 1 Australian parachute Battalion and 2/1 Australian Pioneer Battalion served in Benghazi and Tobruk where he was awarded the Military Cross for gallantry at the age of 20, he celebrated his 21st birthday during the siege of Tobruk. After service in Palestine, Nicholls returned to Australia and qualified as a paratrooper. In 1943 he joined Z Special Unit. Operating in New Guinea he led a party ashore in the Wewak area prior to its capture by 6th Australian Division and in Borneo helped recover the six survivors of the Sandakan death march. Nicholls was discharged after the war, but in 1950, he re-joined the army to fight in Korea.

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Date of birth 22/07/1920

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