Medals from the Collection of Warwick Cary, Part 1

Four: Lieutenant C. A. Nichols, Australian Imperial Force, who served with the 6th Australian Light Horse at Gallipoli, was wounded during the Second Battle of Gaza, and confirmed on the strength of the 12th Australian Light Horse at the time of their charge at Beersheba

1914-15 Star (12 LH AIF Lt Nichols) note name lacking initials; British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. C. A. Nichols. A.I.F.); Defence Medal; together with a Royal Masonic Hospital Jewel 1930, silver, hallmarks for London 1950, the reverse engraved ‘Bro. C. A. Nichols No. 3547’, in its box of issue; Battersea Rotary Club Medal with ‘Past President’ top brooch bar, silver (hallmarks for Birmingham 1940) and enamel, reverse engraved ‘C. A. Nichols 1940-41’; Royal Masonic Institute for Boys 1939 Medal with ‘Steward’ top brooch bar, silver (hallmarks for London 1938) and enamel, the Great War awards later issues, nearly extremely fine (7) £200-£300

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Claude Aplin Nichols was born in 1891 in Battersea, London. Having emigrated to Australia, he attested for the 12th Australian Light Horse Regiment at Holsworthy, New South Wales, on 21 March 1915, serving as a Signaller on Regimental Headquarters before embarking for the Mediterranean Theatre on 11 June 1915. Subsequently transported from Egypt to Anzac Cove, Gallipoli, on 29 August 1915 he was taken on the strength of D Squadron, 6th Light Horse Regiment, 2nd Light Horse Brigade under Brigadier General Granville Ryrie, his draft providing reinforcements following the losses at Lone Pine. Occupying the extreme right flank of the allied position, Nichols stayed with the 2nd Brigade until his evacuation from the peninsula on the night of 19/20 December 1915. He rejoined the 12th Australian Light Horse at Maadi, Egypt in February 1916 and was promoted Signalling Corporal, January 1917.

Wounded in action (gun-shot wound to left leg, bullet through the tibia) at Aseiferiyah on 19 April 1917, during the Second Battle of Gaza, Nichols was taken to 14th Australian General Hospital and, following a period of recuperation, rejoined the 12th Light Horse on 22 September 1917 and was on the strength of the regiment at the time of their celebrated charge to take Beersheba on 31 October 1917. On this occasion, late in the afternoon, together with the 4th Light Horse Regiment, they advanced over open ground in a pure cavalry charge, getting under the Ottoman guns and capturing the town. Over 700 Ottoman soldiers were captured and, more significantly for the Australians, the vital water wells were secured intact. In achieving this, the 12th lost 24 men killed and 15 wounded.

Promoted Signalling Sergeant in November 1917, Nichols served with the 12th as part of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force during their Palestine campaign in late 1917, which included the Battle of Hareira and Sheria on 7 November and the drive to capture Jerusalem in December. Commissioned 2nd Lieutenant on 1 January 1919 and Lieutenant 1 April 1919, his post-war activities included a punitive expedition to Luxor during the Egyptian Uprising.

Lieutenant Nichols embarked for Australia in September 1919 and was discharged from the Australian Imperial Forces on 10 November 1919. Returning to London following his father’s death in 1920, he later served in the Home Guard during the Second World War.

Nichols’ service records reveal that he applied in 1934, via Australia House, London, for his Great War medals but the application was denied by the officer i/c base records, Melbourne, on the basis that they already been claimed by a Mr M. C. D. Cock, of Willoughby, New South Wales, on production of his Power of Attorney and not since been returned. A further application by Nichols in 1967 was approved, however, and a 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal were sent from Australia to his Walton-on-Thames address on 19 October 67. The naming on the later issue 1914-15 Star may be noted to be unusual in placing the unit first and lacking initials.

Sold together with copied research including four large copied photographs of the recipient - childhood group standing portrait together with three older brothers; two Great War period standing portraits of the recipient in A.I.F. uniform; image of the recipient in Second War Home Guard uniform.