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Auction: 25113 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 293

'A true story of the experiences of one of the Norfolk comrades at the Battle of Gaza sounds. stranger than fiction. It was related during the dinner to our representative by ex-Sergt. Tom Nicholls [SIC], of Norwich, now a pensioner of Steward & Fatteson, Ltd. Some officers and men confirmed Nicholls's story. On the 19th April, 1917, he was several wounded in the chest, and was left for dead. Afterwards a Turkish soldier rifled Nicholls's pockets and took a platoon roll book, in which entries had been made. Nicholls, after five months in hospital, rejoined his comrades and went over the top again on the 2nd November at Gaza.
"Some of our A Company dropped into a trench and bayoneted the Turks," said Nicholls, "and went through their pockets. The first thing they came across was my platoon book, which was handed over to me." Producing this book, one could see that hieroglyphics had been written in it by the Turk. Nicholls added that he had been asked to lend this platoon book to the Norfolks' museum but he has declined to do so, remarking: "It may not mean much to them but it is full of memories for me, and I don't want to part with it."
The Comrades' Association of the 1/4th Norfolks was started by Captain Hemmings and ex-R.Q.M.S. D. W. Saunders in 1923. Over 100 members belong to it, many of whom are scattered in different parts of the world-
Alaska, Africa, Canada, Egypt, &c. The 1/4th Norfolks, who were mobilised at the outbreak of war, were in Gallipoli in 1915, and after its evacuation moved to Egypt and thence to Palestine. They took part in the three battles of Gaza, and remained in Palestine until the end of the war, returning home in 1919.'

(A newspaper article relates the unusual story of Sergeant Thomas Nichols)

The remarkable campaign group of four awarded to Serjeant T. Nichols, Norfolk Regiment, who was seriously wounded in battle with the Ottomans in April 1917 only to get his own back at the Third Battle of Gaza

Queen's South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Transvaal, South Africa 1902 (4457 Pte. T. Nichols, Norfolk Regt.); 1914-15 Star (3562 Pte. T. Nichols. Norf. R.); British War and Victory Medals (3562 Sgt. T. Nichols. Norf. R.), sold together with an archive of original material, light pitting, very fine overall (4)

Thomas Nichols, sometimes spelled Nicholls, was born at St. Miles, Norwich and attested there on 30 December 1895, his discharge papers note that he re-attested in 1908. It seems that he was serving in the Territorial Army when the Great War began and was mobilised with the 1/4 Battalion.

Entering the war on 6 August 1915 at Gallipoli he served there until the peninsula was evacuated at which point the Battalion was posted to Egypt. Whilst there Nichols saw action at the Second Battle of Gaza, where he was wounded in the chest. Recovering he saw further action at the Third Battle of Gaza and was later discharged on 15 March 1919.

Joining Steward & Eatteson Ltd, he worked there until retirement, additionally joining the Old Comrades Association of the 1/4 Norfolks. It was at a dinner of that society that the story of the platoon roll book was first told; sold together with copied research and an archive of original material comprising:

i)
Newspaper cutting.

ii)
Platoon roll book.

iii)
Discharge Papers for the recipient's first term of service.

iv)
Character witness report.

v)
Medical reports.

vi)
A telegraph from the War Officer dated in the 1930s.

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Estimate

Starting price
£140