This is my great uncle. My Dad's uncle. I'm named after him. I guess if I'd been a boy I would have been called Nicholas.
I find it bit odd that my Dad was so proud of his uncle, and yet he never went to war. Something to do with having to stay in New Zealand to provide essential services - although I'm not sure NZ rail was an essential service. I think it had more to do with that my Dad was a Pacifist at heart and didn't want to go to fight the war.
One of the things my Dad would say if things seemed tough was "Remember your a Nicholas". I guess it was his way of saying show some fight back and be couragous in your actions.
I used to think honouring war, the returned soldiers etc was an acceptance that war is ok.
Now that I'm older, my views have changed. I remember ther war, and hope I never have to see one in my lifetime.
There's quite an impresseive bronze statue of my great uncle by the river Avon in Christchurch. It was errected a few years ago and had a primo view looking out to the central city. Now it just looks out onto all the destruction. But hey, it survived 100% in tact, and hopefully it will remain there to see some impressive rebuild.
Here's the official bio of my great uncle:
Henry Nicholas arrived in France in September 1916 and saw action at the Somme. He was involved in many of the actions fought by the New Zealand Division in 1917, including the successful attack on Messines ridge on 7 June. He missed the battle of Passchendaele due to illness but rejoined his Canterbury Regiment in time for the Polderhoek attack on 3 December. His actions there earned him the Victoria Cross.
During the advance on Polderhoek, Nicholas’s section was held up by heavy machine-gun and rifle fire. He single-handedly rushed the enemy position from the rear, threw a grenade and shot the officer. He then charged the remaining occupants with his bayonet. When the smoke cleared, 12 Germans lay dead. Four survivors were taken prisoner. Recommending him for an award, his commanding officer noted 'His fearless example and devotion to duty, commands him to special recognition.'
In mid-1918, while in England on leave, Nicholas was invested with his Victoria Cross by the King. After his return to the front in September 1918, the Canterbury Regiment was charged with holding the town of Beaudignies, a short distance from Le Quesnoy. On 23 October a German patrol blundered into Nicholas’s post on a flank guarding a bridge over the River Ecaillon. During this skirmish, Nicholas was killed by heavy machine-gun fire from the high ground of Le Quesnoy. He was posthumously awarded the Military Medal for his bravery during this action.
See also: painting of Henry Nicholas on the Archives NZ War Art website.
Knee update:
The part of my knee that is hurting now is behind my knee - and this morning I noticed it is quite swollen - which is probably not surprising given I've walked on it a fair bit - out of necessity having to walk to the station and back :-/ Less hopeful of making it to the bodybalance on Fri now...
Beautiful ay for a bike ride. Still I just have to remember the injury is tempoary and I can use this to do other stuff.
Given the swelling, if its still swollen tomorrow I may go and see my GP, or a physio - I don't know if you can see a physio without a GP referral? Should be a ACC claim, and it might pay to have some professional manipulation.
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