Bevrijding Dieteren WWII

Trooper Richard John Nicholls, also called Nick by his relatives and comrades, he served the 1st Bn. Lothians and Border Yeomanry under number 4920662.
He was a son of Emanuel Nicholls (1883-1958) and Harriet Jessie Nicholls (neé Robinson)(1885-1963) from Aldridge. He was maried to Doris Nicholls (neé Duffell) (1907-?) they had two children, a daughter Joan (1938-2004) and a son Terence (1941-1995).

In a newspaperclipping from 24 February 1945 in the Walsall Observer we read a bit more about his life:

Krantenartikel nadat hij was gesneuveld. Source: Walsall Observer 24 february 1945

We read:
Killed in Tank
In a letter of sympathy to his wife, a padre states that Trooper Richard John Nicholls, of the Royal Armoured Corps, was instantly killed when his tank was hit by an enemy shell on the Western Front on January 23, and that with comrades he had been buried in Dutch soil.
Mrs. Nicholls, who is left with two young children - a girl aged six and a boy of three - formerly lived at 82, Beeches Road, but recently moved to 22, Port Street, Palfrey.
Trooper R. J. Nicholls who was 30 years of age, and whose parents live at 9, New Road, Aldridge, was called up in May, 1940, and went to Normandy shortly after D-day. As a boy he attended Aldridge School and afterwards followed the trade of a plasterer, but for a time before he joined the Army he was employed by the Talbot Stead Tube Co. Ltd.
His father served with the Artillery in the last war. His wife's brother, Arthur Duffel, of 69, Fullbrook Road, who joined up with him, is now serving in the Middle East.

A small video about the flailtanks during operation Blackcock.

Thanks to John Bagley who send me some pages from the book ‘A short account of the 1st Lothians and Border Yeomanry in the campaigns of 1940 and 1944-45’ by WA Woolward and published in 1946.
It describes the incident as follows:
[23 jan 1945]
By the 23rd, operations were proceeding to programme, and it was obvious that soon there would be no Germans west of the Roer.
While A and B Squadrons attended conferences on the planning of the final phase, C Squadron was detailed to support with fire an attack on Aphoven by the Sherwood. This went swimmingly, and Lieut. Robertson and Sgt. Hunter were ordered to bring in, with their tanks, a number of Germans obviously anxious to be safely captured. Perhaps an ambush, perhaps coincidence, but just as the tanks were rounding up the enemey both were hit and set on fire by shells fired from close range. The crews had no alternative but to bale out, and they, who had anticipated so rich a haul of prisoners, were themselves rounde up. Tpr. Robertson later escaped; here is his own account:
After our tanks were hit I managed, though wounded in the chest, to get out of my burning tank, getting my face and hands burnt. A machine gun opened on us, killing Tpr. Nicholls. Tpr. Naylor and I tried to make our way back, but were rounded up as we were unarmed. The others were also taken prisoner except Tpr. Lawlor, who had been killed in his tank. Sgt. Hunter and others were made to carry me to a house where I was placed in a cellar. I was promised an ambulance, but when none arrived at the end of 20 minutes I was marched out, my wounds having been dressed. During that night I was marched back with no food or water and when day broke was placed again in a cellar, where my boots were taken away. My guards had apparently got hold of some drink, as they were making great noise. About midday I was marched out and was lucky enough to have found a pair of farmer's boots. While we were marching along a road our guns started shelling and we all got into a ditch until it stopped. As the Germans did not bother to look for me, I made good my escape, crawling away from that area. Despite the fact that I was in great pain from my wounds, I wandered about avoiding all parties of Germans who appeared to be manhandling back their guns, and eventyally spent the night in a haystack where I was wretchedly cold. The following morning, half starved, I set off again and spotted a church at which my tank had been firing the day we were hit. I came across a farmhouse which seemed to be void of life apart from a few chickens. I found some bottled cherries, dran the juice and ate some of the cherries. When almost completely exhausted I saw a small party of men in the distance. In my desperation I did not care whether they were friends or foes, and waved to them. They saw me and fortunately turned out to be a stretcher party of the 52nd Div. They carried me to an ambulance on an old door.
This unhappy incident in a successful attack cost the Lothians Lieut. Robertson and 7 men captured, and the loss of Tprs. Nicholls and Lawlor killed.

His name is also mentioned on the Roll of Honour plaque in the town of Walsall.

Richard John Nicholls mentioned on Roll of Honour in townhall of Walsall. Thanks to: Clarke Graeme

Also his name is mentioned on the War Memorial in Aldridge.

War Memorial in Aldridge. Thanks to: Clarke Graeme

Richard John Nicholls mentioned (bottom right) on War Memorial in Aldridge. Thanks to: Clarke Graeme

Also his name is mentioned in the Book of Remembrance in the church of Walsall.

Richard John Nicholls mentioned on Roll of Honour in townhall of Walsall. Thanks to: Clarke Graeme

Grafsteen Richard John Nicholls op de War Cemetery in Ophoven-Sittard

Misschien zijn er nog mensen die informatie hebben over die tijd zoals verhalen of foto's. Neem dan contact op met de webmaster info@deetere.nl wellicht kan het bijdragen aan de geschiedschrijving van onze streek en mogelijk ook van belang voor familieleden van onze bevrijders!

In memory of those who fought for our freedom Herinnering aan onze bevrijders Trooper Richard John (Nick) Nicholls:
Legeronderdeel: Nummer: Geboren: Overleden:	1st Bn. Lothians and Border Yeomanry 4920662 1 March 1914 Aldridge 23 January 1945
Trooper Richard John Nicholls, also called Nick by his relatives and comrades, he served the 1st Bn. Lothians and Border Yeomanry under number 4920662. He was a son of Emanuel Nicholls (1883-1958) and Harriet Jessie Nicholls (neé Robinson)(1885-1963) from Aldridge. He was maried to Doris Nicholls (neé Duffell) (1907-?) they had two children, a daughter Joan (1938-2004) and a son Terence (1941-1995). In a newspaperclipping from 24 February 1945 in the Walsall Observer we read a bit more about his life: Krantenartikel nadat hij was gesneuveld. Source: Walsall Observer 24 february 1945 We read: Killed in Tank In a letter of sympathy to his wife, a padre states that Trooper Richard John Nicholls, of the Royal Armoured Corps, was instantly killed when his tank was hit by an enemy shell on the Western Front on January 23, and that with comrades he had been buried in Dutch soil. Mrs. Nicholls, who is left with two young children - a girl aged six and a boy of three - formerly lived at 82, Beeches Road, but recently moved to 22, Port Street, Palfrey. Trooper R. J. Nicholls who was 30 years of age, and whose parents live at 9, New Road, Aldridge, was called up in May, 1940, and went to Normandy shortly after D-day. As a boy he attended Aldridge School and afterwards followed the trade of a plasterer, but for a time before he joined the Army he was employed by the Talbot Stead Tube Co. Ltd. His father served with the Artillery in the last war. His wife's brother, Arthur Duffel, of 69, Fullbrook Road, who joined up with him, is now serving in the Middle East. A small video about the flailtanks during operation Blackcock. Thanks to John Bagley who send me some pages from the book ‘A short account of the 1st Lothians and Border Yeomanry in the campaigns of 1940 and 1944-45’ by WA Woolward and published in 1946. It describes the incident as follows: [23 jan 1945] By the 23rd, operations were proceeding to programme, and it was obvious that soon there would be no Germans west of the Roer. While A and B Squadrons attended conferences on the planning of the final phase, C Squadron was detailed to support with fire an attack on Aphoven by the Sherwood. This went swimmingly, and Lieut. Robertson and Sgt. Hunter were ordered to bring in, with their tanks, a number of Germans obviously anxious to be safely captured. Perhaps an ambush, perhaps coincidence, but just as the tanks were rounding up the enemey both were hit and set on fire by shells fired from close range. The crews had no alternative but to bale out, and they, who had anticipated so rich a haul of prisoners, were themselves rounde up. Tpr. Robertson later escaped; here is his own account: After our tanks were hit I managed, though wounded in the chest, to get out of my burning tank, getting my face and hands burnt. A machine gun opened on us, killing Tpr. Nicholls. Tpr. Naylor and I tried to make our way back, but were rounded up as we were unarmed. The others were also taken prisoner except Tpr. Lawlor, who had been killed in his tank. Sgt. Hunter and others were made to carry me to a house where I was placed in a cellar. I was promised an ambulance, but when none arrived at the end of 20 minutes I was marched out, my wounds having been dressed. During that night I was marched back with no food or water and when day broke was placed again in a cellar, where my boots were taken away. My guards had apparently got hold of some drink, as they were making great noise. About midday I was marched out and was lucky enough to have found a pair of farmer's boots. While we were marching along a road our guns started shelling and we all got into a ditch until it stopped. As the Germans did not bother to look for me, I made good my escape, crawling away from that area. Despite the fact that I was in great pain from my wounds, I wandered about avoiding all parties of Germans who appeared to be manhandling back their guns, and eventyally spent the night in a haystack where I was wretchedly cold. The following morning, half starved, I set off again and spotted a church at which my tank had been firing the day we were hit. I came across a farmhouse which seemed to be void of life apart from a few chickens. I found some bottled cherries, dran the juice and ate some of the cherries. When almost completely exhausted I saw a small party of men in the distance. In my desperation I did not care whether they were friends or foes, and waved to them. They saw me and fortunately turned out to be a stretcher party of the 52nd Div. They carried me to an ambulance on an old door. This unhappy incident in a successful attack cost the Lothians Lieut. Robertson and 7 men captured, and the loss of Tprs. Nicholls and Lawlor killed. His name is also mentioned on the Roll of Honour plaque in the town of Walsall. Richard John Nicholls mentioned on Roll of Honour in townhall of Walsall. Thanks to: Clarke Graeme Also his name is mentioned on the War Memorial in Aldridge. War Memorial in Aldridge. Thanks to: Clarke Graeme Richard John Nicholls mentioned (bottom right) on War Memorial in Aldridge. Thanks to: Clarke Graeme Also his name is mentioned in the Book of Remembrance in the church of Walsall. Richard John Nicholls mentioned on Roll of Honour in townhall of Walsall. Thanks to: Clarke Graeme Grafsteen Richard John Nicholls op de War Cemetery in Ophoven-Sittard Misschien zijn er nog mensen die informatie hebben over die tijd zoals verhalen of foto's. Neem dan contact op met de webmaster info@deetere.nl wellicht kan het bijdragen aan de geschiedschrijving van onze streek en mogelijk ook van belang voor familieleden van onze bevrijders!