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209605 Sgt. Henry James Nicholas VC, MM. New Zealand Expeditionary Force 1st Btn Canterbury Infantry Regiment from:New Zealand (d.23rd Oct 1918) Henry James Nicholas was a 26-year-old private in the 1st Battalion, Canterbury Infantry Regiment, New Zealand Expeditionary Force when he was awarded the VC: "On 3rd December 1917, at Polderhoek in 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." Later promoted to sergeant, Nicholas was killed in action on 23rd of October 1918, near Vertigneul in France. He is buried in the Vertigneul Churchyard. Please type your message:      We recommend you copy the text about this item and keep a copy on your own computer before pressing submit. Your Name:             Email Address:       @ **Please put the first part of your email, (before the @ sign) in the first box, and the second part in the second box. Do not include @, it is automatic. Do not enter your full email in each box or add an @ sign or random spaces.**