The official account of Lance-Corporal Nicholls's bravery say: n May 21, 1940, Lance Corporal Nicholls was commanding a section in the right-forward platoon of his company when the company was ordered to counter-attack.
"At the very start of the advance he was wounded in the arm by shrapnel, but continued to lead his section forward. As the company came over a small ridge the enemy opened heavy machine-gun fire at close range.
"Realising the danger to the company, he immediately seized a Bren gun and dashed forward towards the machine-guns, firing from the hip. He succeeded in silencing first one machine-gun and then two others in spite of being again severely wounded.
"Lance-Corporal Nicholls then went on up to a higher piece of ground and engaged the German infantry massed behind, causing many casualties and continuing to fire until he had no more ammunition left.
"He was wounded at least four times in all, but absolutely refused to give in. There is no doubt that his gallant action was instrumental in enabling his company to reach its Objective.
Captain Etvine-Andrews was born on July 29, 1911. He served on the North-West Frontier in 1936-37, was mentioned in dispatches and holds the medal with clasp for that campaign. He was married in Belfast last October.
The late Lance-Corporal Nicholls, who was 25, frequently represented his battalion at the Army boxing championships. He was a former heavy-weight Imperial Services champion, Home Football Results
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.