Lieut J.C. Nicholas, NZEF

Lieutenant James Cornelius NICHOLAS
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NICHOLAS (Served as JAMES)
Lieutenant James Cornelius

No. 13/278, 4th (Waikato) Sqn., Auckland Mounted Rifles, New Zealand Expeditionary Force.

Born 30th May 1881, in Kumara, Westland, New Zealand.
[Birth cert: 1881 2653 (Kumara Sep qtr), NZ]

Educated: Unknown.

Married; Building contractor (self-employed), of Opotiki, New Zealand.

Next Of Kin: Miss Clarice Ivy Hooper, Claudelands, Hamilton NZ (legatee). Father; James Nicholas. Mother; Mary Ellen Richards (formerly Nicholas), of Hamilton, New Zealand (Miss Hooper) / Melbourne, Victoria (parents).

Photos of Lieutenant Nicholas are known to exist in the following:
Auckland Weekly News 24 Jun 1915 p38




Killed in action
19th May 1915
at Walker's Ridge, central Anzac sector
Aged 34






4th (Waikato) Sqn. Auckland Mounted Rifles, NZEF

Libertas et Natale Solum
(Liberty and Homeland)


Grave:
Walker's Ridge cemetery



Notes:


On NZ Embarkation Roll as JAMES, Lieutenant Cornelius, no. 13/278. Main Body Auckland Mounted Rifles. Lived at Opotiki [Auckland district], NZ. NOK, Mrs C. Hooper, Hamilton, NZ.

NZ Birth register as 'NICHOLAS, James Cornelius'.

CWGC lists Father as: the late James Nicholas. Mother's address as: 'Glen', 42 Athelstan Road, South Camberwell, Melbourne, Victoria.

Some sources list unit as the 3rd (Auckland) Squadron, but the following pieces of evidence confirm unit was 4th (Waikato) Squadron: A Lt. 'Cornelius JAMES, 4th Squadron, Auckland Mounted Regiment', appears in the Killed in Action casualty list, New Zealand Herald 24 May 1915 p9, and in the casualty list in the Auckland Weekly News of 27 May 1915 p20. NOK is listed as Miss C. Hooper, of Hamilton, NZ.

'Promotion of Territorial Officer' Form lists unit as 4th 'Waikato' M.R.

Embarked from New Zealand 16 Oct 1914 aboard Transport no.8. Disembarked Alexandria 3 Dec 1914.

CWGC lists date of death as Saturday, 22nd May 1915, but according to the account of the action in which he died (from the official history of the Auckland Mounted Rifles), Lieut. James was with the 4th (Waikato) Squadron, and was killed during the defence of Walker's Ridge in the early morning of the 19th May, during the massive Turkish attack of that day:
'Lieutenant J. M. Roberts was in command of the squadron. Captain Bluck, who had been in command of the Waikatos after Major Tattersall had taken the place of Major Chapman as second in command of the Regiment when it left Zeitoun, had been killed by a sniper that morning. Lieutenant Roberts had had only two hours of daylight in which to familiarise himself with the position and make his dispositions. He decided to put Lieutenant C. James, with his troop (the Whakatane Troop), into the new front line, on the right, which, it was obvious, would have to bear the force of the attack.
The rest of the 4th squadron occupied the old line, to the right, overlooking Monash Gully, with the exception of Lieutenant Milliken's troop, which was held in reserve. The Whakatane Troop was practically isolated owing to the presence of a small gap between their right and the old line, but this gap was not the menace of the gap on their left, although it made reinforcement and communication difficult. Lieutenant James' orders were to hold the little line for 20 minutes at all costs - and be and his men well knew what the cost would be. They knew that they would have to leave their sap and fight in the open, owing to the fact that in its present state it was merely a deep, narrow ditch, from which they could not fight. It had no fire steps, and it was so narrow that two men could not pass in it. As soon as the attack was launched, Lieutenant James and his men sprang over the parapet, and, lying down in the open, poured their fire into the Turks. Soon they were at point-blank range, and dozens of Turks were shot down at a distance of 10 feet.
The miracle was how the little band of heroes was not overwhelmed. The Turks had men enough to sweep through them like a hurricane, but their fire was so well directed, and their demeanour so stubborn, that every rush was crushed, the Turks doing the fatal thing of lying down at the very time their final resolute rush should have been made. It was probably their fear of resolute steel that stopped them. Within a few minutes two-thirds of the troop had become casualties, Lieutenant James being among the killed, but the line held. Then Lieutenant Milliken was ordered to reinforce with the reserve troop, and after him were sent two troops of the 11th squadron, commanded by Lieutenant Finlayson and Lieutenant Logan, Captain Mackesy, of the 11th, accompanying them. (Nicol p45, 46).

'Deeply regret the death of Lieutenant James, who fell holding our most perilous position in the face of almost certain death. He carried out his task to the very letter. The courage, calmness and absolute obedience of the men under an absolute hail of bullets was simply marvellous beyond words.' ('Auckland Weekly News' 29 Jul 1915 p30. Lists unit as 4th (Waikato) Sqn. Death 'reported May 23').

On Military History sheet, date of death is listed as 'about 22/5/15.'

'3.30 AM. Turks rushed our trenches on left front throwing hand grenades, were repulsed easily. The Turks were the finest soldiers from Constantinople. About 2 P.M. A.C. Simpson badly wounded in head & cheek (5 bullet holes in cap). A few minutes later G. Woodward killed. I was between the two about a couple of yards each way separating me. Our casualties were, killed G. Woodward, A.H. White, H. Brown, Sgt. Farrer, Lt. James, T. Bradley, W. Crickitt (died of wounds), A.C. Simpson. Wounded Lt. Roberts, Sgt. Holden, Sgt. Douglas, Cpl. Carter, L.Cpl, J. Fox, J.M. Cassack, D. James.' (Diary, Tpr Joseph Law, entry for 20 May 1915).

Medals were sent to Miss C. Hooper (legatee), of 6 Neill Street, Hamilton, in 1921. Plaque and Scroll were issued in the 'correct name' and sent to Mrs M.E. Nicholas (mother), of 'Glen', 42 Athelstan Road, South Camberwell, Melbourne, Victoria, in 1922.


Lest We Forget


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