Place of birth | Coleraine, Victoria |
School | St Patrick's (Catholic) College, Ballarat, Victoria |
Other training | At the time of enlistment he was training for law. |
Religion | Church of England |
Occupation | High school teacher |
Address | Trafalgar, Gippsland, Victoria |
Marital status | Single |
Age at embarkation | 28 |
Next of kin | Father, J P Nicholas, Trafalgar, Gippsland, Victoria |
Previous military service | Nil |
Enlistment date | |
Rank on enlistment | 2nd Lieutenant |
Unit name | 24th Battalion, D Company |
AWM Embarkation Roll number | 23/41/1 |
Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A14 Euripides on |
Rank from Nominal Roll | Captain |
Unit from Nominal Roll | 24th Battalion |
Recommendations (Medals and Awards) |
Distinguished Service Order '(Pozieres) Great dash & initiative in capturing machine-gun single-handed.' Second citation reads: '(Pozieres) For ability and skill in handling his Coy, for excellent consolidation work, and gallant reconnaissances.' Recommendation date: Mention in Despatches Awarded, and promulgated, 'London Gazette', second Supplement, No. 29890 (2 January 1917); 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 103 (29 June 1917). |
Other details from Roll of Honour Circular | Name given on RoH circular as George Matson NICHOLAS. Awarded the DSO and Mentioned in Despatches. |
Fate | Killed in Action |
Age at death | 29 |
Age at death from cemetery records | 29 |
Place of burial | A.I.F. Burial Ground, Grass Lane (Plot IV, Row H, Grave No. 27), Flers, France |
Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial | 102 |
Miscellaneous information from cemetery records | Parents: Mr J.P. and Mrs M.E. NICHOLAS, Sunshine, Victoria. Native of Coleraine |
Medals |
Distinguished Service Order 'For conspicuous gallantry and initiative. having whilst on reconnaissance discovered a machine gun, Captain Nicholas went out again alone, and with great dash and initiative captured the gun.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 62 Date: |
Family/military connections | Brother: [370] Lt Bryon Fitzgerald NICHOLAS MM, 24th Bn, killed in action, Passchendaele, Belgium, 9 October 1917. |
Other details |
War service: Egypt, Gallipoli, Western Front Medals: Distinguished Service Order, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal |
Miscellaneous details | Listed on Embarkation Roll as G M NICHOLAS. |