Regimental number | 13176 |
Place of birth | Maxwelltown Scotland |
Religion | Presbyterian |
Occupation | Minister of religion |
Address | West Perth, Western Australia |
Marital status | Single |
Age at embarkation | 27 |
Next of kin | Father, A Patterson, Claraville, Dumfries, Scotland |
Enlistment date | |
Rank on enlistment | Private |
Unit name | Army Medical Corps, Special Reinforcements |
AWM Embarkation Roll number | 26/99/2 |
Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Fremantle, Western Australia, on board HMAT A63 Karoola on |
Rank from Nominal Roll | Lance Corporal |
Unit from Nominal Roll | 12th Field Ambulance |
Fate | Returned to Australia |
Medals |
Military Medal 'For gallantry as a runner near ALBERT on 6th April, 1918 Private Nicholls was sent from Company Headquarters to Battalion Headquarters at 5 a.m. 6th April, 1918, a distance of 1500 yards with an important message. On his way back he overtook some exhausted stretcher bearers and assisted them in bringing in a wounded officer. It was daylight before he could return, but he set out saying "My Company Commander will want me". For 800 yards of his return trip he was fully exposed to enemy snipers, and had many narrow escapes. He crawled a long distance taking advantage of shell holes. Snipers fired at him each time he appeared, but he ultimately got to his destination safely. It was a striking instance of devotion to duty.'
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