Henry James Nicholas

Henry James Nicholas was a New Zealand recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for valour in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. Born in Lincoln, Canterbury, he worked as a carpenter before enlisting in the Canterbury Infantry Regiment of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force during the First World War.

He served on the Western Front, where his actions during the Battle of Passchendaele in October 1917 earned him the Victoria Cross. During the advance, his platoon was pinned down by heavy machine-gun fire from a strongpoint. Nicholas single-handedly rushed the position, overcame the garrison, and captured the gun, allowing his unit to continue their advance.

He was later awarded the Military Medal for his conduct during operations in the sector. Nicholas was killed in action in France on 23 October 1918, just weeks before the armistice. His decorations, including the Victoria Cross and Military Medal, were later presented to his mother and subsequently bequeathed to the Canterbury Museum where they are displayed today.