Henry Nicholas VC, a plaque in his honour was unveiled in Belgium this weekend (image courtesy: Army Museum Waiouru).
15 September 2008
New Zealand Defence Force personnel took part in the unveiling of a special plaque to honour Christchurch VC holder, Sergeant Henry James Nicholas VC, in Belgium on Sunday 14 September.
Around 300 people attended the ceremony including New Zealand’s Ambassador to Belgium HE Mr Peter Kennedy, New Zealand Defence Force personnel and many of the citizens of West Flanders.
SGT Nicholas VC was the first soldier from the Canterbury Regiment to be awarded the Victoria Cross, for his actions during the First World War. The plaque is located near Geluveld to the south of Polygon Wood, close to the spot where Nicholas won the VC.
Military Adviser Defence Staff London, Lieutenant Colonel John Boswell said:
“The story of Sergeant Nicholas’ exceptional bravery is truly inspirational. He single-handedly captured a German machine-gun post that had opened up on the New Zealand advance, killing 12 of its occupants and taking the other four prisoner. His actions saved many lives and enabled the New Zealand attack to continue.”
Following the unveiling those attending the ceremony were guided through Polygon Wood to visit the dug-outs built by New Zealand engineers in 1917. The short walk concluded at the New Zealand Memorial to the Missing at Buttes New British Cemetery where around 500 people attended a remembrance service.
The plaque was erected by the Community of Zonnebeke and the New Zealand Embassy in Brussels.
ENDS
Editor’s note: Please credit the historical photograph of Henry Nicholas to NZ Army Museum, Waiouru.
For further information or photographs please contact Ally Clelland, Defence Public Relations, phone 04 496 0273 or 021 569 130
UK contact: Lieutenant Colonel John Boswell, NZ Defence Staff London, ++44(0)20 7930 8400 Ext 248 or ++44(0) 7887 504 220
Background: Henry Nicholas
Henry James Nicholas, the first soldier from Canterbury to win the VC, was born in 1891 at Lincoln, near Christchurch. He was 26 years old and a private in the 1st Battalion, Canterbury Infantry Regiment when the action took place for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross.
On 3 December 1917 at Polderhoek Private Nicholas, who was one of a Lewis gun section, single-handedly captured an enemy strong hold that was delaying the New Zealand advance and, through heavy machine-gun and rifle fire, was inflicting casualties on the New Zealanders.
Sgt Nicholas was killed in action near Le Quesnoy, France on 23 October 1918, 19 days before Armistice Day.
In March last year a statue of Henry Nicholas was unveiled near the Christchurch Bridge of Remembrance. The statue was commissioned by the Canterbury District RSA and the Christchurch City Council. The larger than life size figure stands on a two metre high base which includes stones from Le Quesnoy and the Polderhoek Chateau area of Flanders.
Sister cities
Twinned with Waimakariri in Canterbury, the Zonnebeke district of West Flanders covers the area of the 1917 Battle of Passchendaele, as well as Polygon Wood and the Polderhoek Chateau.
Polygon Wood Cemetery
Polygon Wood Cemetery contains 103 Commonwealth war graves, 60 of those served with the New Zealand forces.
Buttes New British Cemetery
Buttes New British Cemetery, set within the confines of Polygon Wood itself, contains 3816 Commonwealth war graves, 167 of those served with the New Zealand forces.
New Zealand Memorial
The New Zealand Memorial at Buttes New British Cemetery commemorates 378 officers and men of the New Zealand division who died in the Polygon Wood area between September 1917 and May 1918, and who have no known grave. It is one of seven memorials in France and Belgium to those New Zealand soldiers who died on the Western Front who have no known grave.