Victoria Cross Citation
The announcement and accompanying citation for the decoration was published in supplement to the London Gazette on 31 July 1940, reading
'War Office, 31st July, 1940The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the award of the VICTORIA CROSS to:—
Lance Corporal Harry Nichollas, 1st Bn, Grenadier Guards
On the 21st May 1940, Lance Corporal Nicholls was commanding a section in the right-forward platoon of his company when the company was ordered to counter-attack. At the very start of the advance he was wounded in the arm by shrapnel, but continued to lead his section forward; as the company came over a small ridge, the enemy opened heavy machine-gun fire at close range. Lance Corporal Nicholls, realising the danger to the company, immediately seized a Bren gun and dashed forward towards the machine-guns, firing from the hip. He succeeded in silencing first one machine-gun and then two other machine-guns, in spite of being again severely wounded. Lance-Corporal Nicholls then went on up to a higher piece of ground and engaged the German infantry massed behind, causing many casualties, and continuing to fire until he had no more ammunition left. He was wounded at least four times in all, but absolutely refused to give in.
There is no doubt that his gallant action was instrumental in enabling his company to reach its objective, and in causing the enemy to fall back across the River Scheldt.Read more about this topic: Harry Nicholls
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