NICHOLS, Walter William
| Service Number: | 1879 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 15 February 1915, Perth WA |
| Last Rank: | Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 3rd Light Trench Mortar Battery |
| Born: | Chewton, Victoria, Australia, 4 May 1897 |
| Home Town: | Gnowangerup, Gnowangerup, Western Australia |
| Schooling: | Chewton State School, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation: | Baker |
| Died: | Karrakatta, Western Australia, 10 August 1978, aged 81 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Karrakatta Cemetery & Crematorium, Western Australia |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 15 Feb 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1879, 11th Infantry Battalion, Perth WA | |
|---|---|---|
| 19 Apr 1915: | Involvement Private, 1879, 11th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '10' embarkation_place: Fremantle embarkation_ship: HMAT Argyllshire embarkation_ship_number: A8 public_note: '' | |
| 19 Apr 1915: | Embarked Private, 1879, 11th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Argyllshire, Fremantle | |
| 28 Sep 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 1879, 11th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli | |
| 9 May 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 3rd Light Trench Mortar Battery, France | |
| 3 Jul 1916: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 1879, 3rd Light Trench Mortar Battery, Multiple bomb wounds to arm. France. Evacuated to England. | |
| 15 Jun 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 3rd Light Trench Mortar Battery, Belgium | |
| 9 Oct 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 1879, 3rd Light Trench Mortar Battery, Third Ypres | |
| 18 Apr 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 1879, 3rd Light Trench Mortar Battery, German Spring Offensive 1918 | |
| 2 Jun 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 1879, 3rd Light Trench Mortar Battery, German Spring Offensive 1918 | |
| 15 Jul 1918: | Promoted AIF WW1, Corporal, 3rd Light Trench Mortar Battery, France. Detached for duty with American Army from 24 September 1918 to 2 October 1918. | |
| 8 Oct 1918: | Honoured Military Medal, German Spring Offensive 1918, For operations against the enemy positions at MONT DE MERRIS near STRAZEELE on night 2nd/3rd June, 1918. | |
| 4 Jul 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Corporal, 1879, 3rd Light Trench Mortar Battery, Returned to Australia 21 March 1919 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Robert Wight
Military Medal
'In the operations against the enemy positions at MONT DE MERRIS near STRAZEELE on night 2nd/3rd June, 1918, Lance Corporal NICHOLS displayed conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He was in charge of a Stokes gun which took part in the preliminary bombardment. The task allotted to his gun was of the utmost importance and required it to be fired at its fastest rate for a considerable period. This he not only succeeded in doing but observing that another Stokes gun near him was out of action he immediately sent two of his detachment to the disabled gun and had the remaining ammunition carried to his own gun. This he succeeded in firing off in addition to the rounds allotted to his own gun. Later during the action a shell burst in an ammunition recess in the vicinity of his gun where sixty (60) rounds of detonated Stokes shells were stored. One box of Stokes shells exploded and a fire was started. With great presence of mind Lance Corporal NICHOLS, regardless of his own safety, extinguished the fire and prevented a further explosion.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 23
Date: 12 February 1919
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