Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War 1917 ‘VC Action’ M.M. group of three awarded to Private G. Nicholson, 1st Australian Infantry Battalion, Australian Imperial Force, for gallantry during the Second Battle of Bullecourt - during which he was wounded in action three times. Nicholson was wounded in action a total of 5 times between March 1917 - September 1918

Military Medal, G.V.R. (3867A Pte. G. Nicholson. 1/Aust: Inf:); British War and Victory Medals (3867. Pte. G. Nicholson 4 Bn. A.I.F.), mounted for wear, lacquered, VM officially renamed, nearly extremely fine (3) £800-1000

M.M. London Gazette 17 July 1917. The original recommendation states:

‘For conspicuous good work during period 4th to 6th May 1917. Although his gun was blown out by shell fire many times and he was wounded three times, he continued to remain with the gun, doing very fine work in stopping enemy bombing attacks and accounting for many of the enemy.’

G. H. Nicholson was born in Plumpton, near Penrith, Cumberland, in 1888. He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on 7 August 1915, and embarked for Egypt in H.M.T. Media, 7 January 1916. Nicholson embarked for France in H.M.T. Ivernia 28 March 1916, and served with the 1st Australian Infantry Battalion in the French theatre of war.

Nicholson received a gunshot wound to the right thigh, 16 March 1917, and upon recovery he served with the 1st Battalion as part of the 1st Australian Brigade, at Ypres. He was awarded his M.M. for gallantry in operations during the Second Battle of Bullecourt, during which his Battalion suffered casualties of 5 officers and 44 other ranks killed, 8 officers and 232 other ranks wounded and 29 other ranks missing. Corporal G. J. Howell became the third member of the Battalion to be awarded the V.C. for the Great War, in this instance for his gallantry near Bullecourt, 6 May 1917.

Nicholson received another wound, 11 September 1918, before his eventual discharge.