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Sergeant Henry James Nicholas V. C.
Description
TitleSergeant Henry James Nicholas V. C.SummaryA soldier in World War One. DescriptionHenry James Nicholas was born in Lincoln on 11 June 1891. His parents, Richard Henry and Hannah Nicholas, were married in Lyttelton at the bride's home on 31 August 1886. The records state that Richard was born in Cornwall, and at the time of his marriage his place of residence was given as Lyttelton, but that his usual place of residence was Lincoln, where he apparently worked as an engine driver. The family moved into Christchurch before Henry was of school age and in due course he attended East Christchurch School and the Normal School. When he left school he worked as an apprentice carpenter, and on completing his time worked for a few months around Canterbury before moving to work in Australia.
When war broke out he returned to New Zealand, volunteered with the Canterbury Regiment and had been at the front with the 1st Battalion, Canterbury Regiment for some two years when he won the V.C. He won the medal for his actions in an attack in Belgium in December 1917. The citation tells us that he was a member of a Lewis gun section which was halted by machine gun fire from a heavily defended strong point when he thereupon rushed forward alone to kill or capture the 16 strong garrison.
Nicholas later won a Military Medal for an action in France, but I have not traced the background to this award. After winning the Victoria Cross he was promoted to Sergeant, which rank he held when he was killed in action shortly before the war ended.
In civilian life he was well known as an amateur boxer, both in Canterbury and in Australia, and during his army career he won the middle-weight boxing championship for his regiment.
Footnote:
The Press of 24 July, 2002 earned a story by Mike Crean about Henry Nicholas, a Lincoln carpenter who was the first Canterbury recipient in WWI to win the Victoria Cross. This was an intriguing story especially as no local resident knew about it and the Roll of Honour in the Community Centre does not record the name of H J Nicholas. Initial attempts to discover more from the Christchurch Museum where the medals and other relevant items are held were unsuccessful, but a search of 'The History of the Canterbury Regiment, N.Z.E.F. 1914-1918, copies of The Press and genealogical records held in the Aotearoa/New Zealand Room at Christchurch Public Library, provided the answers.First NameHenry JamesLast NameNicholasFamilySon of Richard Henry and Hannah NicholasDate of Birth11 June 1891Place of BirthLincolnDate of Death23 October 1918Place of DeathVertigneul, FranceCause of DeathKilled in actionAge at Death26
When war broke out he returned to New Zealand, volunteered with the Canterbury Regiment and had been at the front with the 1st Battalion, Canterbury Regiment for some two years when he won the V.C. He won the medal for his actions in an attack in Belgium in December 1917. The citation tells us that he was a member of a Lewis gun section which was halted by machine gun fire from a heavily defended strong point when he thereupon rushed forward alone to kill or capture the 16 strong garrison.
Nicholas later won a Military Medal for an action in France, but I have not traced the background to this award. After winning the Victoria Cross he was promoted to Sergeant, which rank he held when he was killed in action shortly before the war ended.
In civilian life he was well known as an amateur boxer, both in Canterbury and in Australia, and during his army career he won the middle-weight boxing championship for his regiment.
Footnote:
The Press of 24 July, 2002 earned a story by Mike Crean about Henry Nicholas, a Lincoln carpenter who was the first Canterbury recipient in WWI to win the Victoria Cross. This was an intriguing story especially as no local resident knew about it and the Roll of Honour in the Community Centre does not record the name of H J Nicholas. Initial attempts to discover more from the Christchurch Museum where the medals and other relevant items are held were unsuccessful, but a search of 'The History of the Canterbury Regiment, N.Z.E.F. 1914-1918, copies of The Press and genealogical records held in the Aotearoa/New Zealand Room at Christchurch Public Library, provided the answers.First NameHenry JamesLast NameNicholasFamilySon of Richard Henry and Hannah NicholasDate of Birth11 June 1891Place of BirthLincolnDate of Death23 October 1918Place of DeathVertigneul, FranceCause of DeathKilled in actionAge at Death26
Connections
Military Service
Memorial or CemeteryVergineul Churchyard, Romeries, Nord, FranceOccupation before EnlistingCarpenterRegiment or ServiceCanterbury Infantry Regiment, 1st BattalionService Number24213Rank Last HeldSergeantEmbarkation27th May 1916Place of EmbarkationWellingtonTheatre of WarWestern FrontReinforcement13th Reinforcements, C CompanyCountryNew Zealand
Attribution
Researched ByNeville MoorTaken FromPhoto taken from Auckland War Memorial Cenotaph. Please refer to this site for the photo’s copyright license.
Sergeant Henry James Nicholas V. C.. Selwyn Stories, accessed 03/06/2026, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/528