Nicholls and Nash ETO (id:#58768)

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Poplar Ridge, Pecq, Belgium 1940-05-21 (9 others)

Overview:

German forces held a poplar covered ridge 250 meters from the Escaut River. Dug in, they had beaten off numerous, small counter-attacks. The British realized the Germans were there in force and that they had to be thrown back across the river. No. 3 Company, supported by the Carrier Section, was ordered to eliminate the German bridgehead and seal the gap in the British lines. It seemed suicidal as they advanced across the cornfield in the face of German machineguns. The Carriers were destroyed as they charged the Germans head-on. About this time, Lance Corporal Harry Nicholls turned to his loader, Guardsman Percy Nash, and yelled, "Come on Nash, follow me!" Nicholls fired from the hip and attacked using a system of short hops. Nicholls was severely wounded numerous times, but refused to stop. Once he silenced the Germans machinegun teams on Poplar Ridge, he moved to the river and shot up the German reinforcements trying to cross the Escaut. Due to Nicholls' attack, the Germans had been reduced to below platoon strength and were forced to withdraw back across the river.

Defender: German (Elements 5th&6th Cos., II/12th Infantry Regt, 31st Infantry Division)  

Errata (source)