Major Henry William Nicholls

Service number 18026, NX15737
Ranks Held Captain, Major, Lieutenant
Birth Date 1920-07-22
Birth Place Australia: New South Wales, Sydney, Leichhardt
Final Rank Major
Service Royal Australian Infantry
Units
  • 3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment
  • Services Reconnaissance Department
  • 2/1st Pioneer Battalion
  • Z Special Unit
Places
Conflicts/Operations
  • Korea, 1950-1953
  • Second World War, 1939-1945
Gazettes Published in London Gazette in 1952-11-25
Published in London Gazette in 1952-03-04
Published in London Gazette in 1941-10-21
Published in Commonwealth Gazette in 1952-03-20
Published in Commonwealth Gazette in 1952-11-27
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.

Rolls

Timeline

Date of birth 22 July 1920