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BRIGADIER ARTHUR FREDERICK CRANE NICHOLLS, GC, ERD.
Arthur Frederick Crane Nicholls was born in
Hampstead, London on 6th February 1911. After qualifying
as a Lawyer at Cambridge University he was commissioned
into the Royal Artillery, Territorial Army in August
1933. He transferred to the Coldstream Guards
(Supplementary Reserve) in May 1937.
He was mobilised in 1939 and went to France with the 2nd
Battalion, but because of his knowledge of foreign
languages he was posted as an Intelligence Officer to HQ
1st Division.
He joined the Special Operations Executive (SOE) in
March 1942. Initially he was a Staff Officer, but in
October 1943, he was parachuted into Albania as a Staff
Officer Grade 1 (Lt Col) to Brigadier ‘Trotsky’ Davis’
British Military Mission to Albania. Their task was to
stir up resistance to the German occupation and tie down
troops that would otherwise be sent to other fronts.
The Headquarters was attacked in January 1944, and they
took to the hills pursued by Germans and hostile
partisans. Nicholls became an acting Brigadier on the
8th January 1944 when Brigadier Davis was wounded and
captured. He led his party to safety through atrocious
weather but he suffered severe frostbite and had to have
his feet amputated. He died from the effects of his
wounds on 11 Feb 1944. For his gallantry and leadership,
he was awarded the George Cross
In addition to the GC, he was also awarded the 1939-45
Star, Italy Star, Defence and War Medals, and the
Emergency Reserve decoration (ERD). The latter was
awarded for his accumulated service in the University
Training Corps, Territorial Army and the Supplementary
Reserve. He was also mentioned in dispatches.
His medals were presented to the Regiment by his
daughter. However, whilst carrying out research into
Brigadier Nicholls in 1991, LCpl Ian Tindall discovered
that he was entitled to the Emergency Reserve
Decoration. His daughter applied for the medal and it
was gazetted in the London Gazette on 26th November
1992, 48 years after his death. His daughter
subsequently presented the ERD to the Regiment to be
mounted with his other medals.
EXTRACT FROM THE LONDON GAZETTE
01 Mar 1946
 George Cross
62269 Major (Temporary Lieutenant Colonel) (Acting
Brigadier) Arthur Frederick Crane Nicholls
Brigadier Nicholls was parachuted into Albania in
October 1943, as General staff Officer to the Allied
Military Mission. The Mission was attacked and dispersed
by the enemy in December and from then until the end of
January 1944 Brigadier Nicholls was a fugitive in the
mountains in conditions of the most extreme hardship and
suffering. He took over command the remains of the
dispersed mission when, under close hostile fire, his
Brigadier was wounded with two others and gave orders
that they should be abandoned to the enemy.
Brigadier Nicholls was at that time suffering from
extreme frostbite in both feet, but despite the
increasing severity of this handicap, for which no
medical help was available, and in the face of
conditions that made human life barely tenable, he
maintained his determination to carry out his task of
getting in touch with an Allied Wireless telegraphy set
in order to regain contact with his Headquarters in
Italy.
When he could no longer stand, he ordered his
Second-in-Command to take over and march south, leaving
him (Brigadier Nicholls) with two Albanian peasants to
make what progress they could to the North in the hope
of finding an Allied Wireless Telegraphy post. For
fifteen days Brigadier Nicholls traversed enemy occupied
territory by dragged over the snow and rocks on his
greatcoat and later by riding a mule.
When Brigadier Nicholls had made contact with the
British Officer whom he sought, he was half-starved,
half-frozen, and had a dislocated shoulder. He made his
report upon which important questions of Allied strategy
and policy depended and was planning a reorganisation of
the Mission (the remainder of which was located and
rescued as a result of his efforts) when, after a
journey of further hardships to base, he died on the
11th of February 1944.
Brigadier Nicholls, despite his terrible sufferings,
realised throughout the supreme importance of getting in
touch with his Headquarters. He set an example of
heroism, fortitude, courage, leadership, the will to
win, and devotion to duty which has seldom been equalled
and never surpassed. He carried on further than could
normally be considered possible, and this undoubtedly
caused his death.
His medal(s)
is on display at Regimental Headquarters.
RELATED IMAGES/INFORMATION
More information on Nicholls can be found below:
Wikipedia External Link
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