Lance Corporal Harry Nicholls V.C.

3rd Battalion Grenadier Guards

  • Born 21 April 1915, Nottingham
  • Died 11 September 1975
  • Buried in Wilford Hill Cemetery
  • Gazetted 30 July 1940

On 21 May 1940, near the River Escaut, in the village of Esquelmes, north of Tournai in Belgium, Lance-Corporal Nicholls, although suffering from shrapnel wounds in his arm, continued to lead his section in a counter-attack against overwhelming opposition.

He advanced over a ridge, and when the position became critical, he rushed forward, putting three enemy machine-guns out of action.

He then attacked massed enemy infantry beyond a second ridge until his ammunition ran out and he was taken prisoner.

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