Orders, Decorations and Medals

Three: Major-General O. H. A. Nicolls, Royal Artillery, officer commanding 9th Battery 2nd Brigade R.A. in the Perak Expedition 1875-76

Crimea 1854-56, 1 clasp, Sebastopol, unnamed as issued; India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Perak (Major O. H. A. Nicolls, 9th By. 2nd Bde. R. A.); Turkish Crimea, Sardinian issue, unnamed, edge bruising and lacquered, otherwise very fine (3) £600-700

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Richard Schweder Collection of Medals for Campaigns in Malaysia.

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Oliver Henry Atkins Nicolls was born at Bognor, Sussex, on 24 July 1834. He was appointed a Gentleman Cadet, Royal Artillery, in December 1849, and gazetted a Second Lieutenant R.A. on 12 December 1853. Posted to 1 Company 9th Battalion, Siege Train R.A. in the Crimea, he arrived there in September 1854 and was engaged in the First Bombardment of Sebastopol until invalided. He rejoined the regiment in the Crimea in September 1855 and took part in the Sixth Bombardment of Sebastopol. He became 2nd Captain in April 1860 and was appointed A.D.C. to the G.O.C. Ceylon. Promoted to Captain in December 1869, he was posted to Penang and Singapore in June 1872 and advanced to Major the following month. Major Nicolls commanded 9th Battery 2nd Brigade R.A. on the expedition to Perak 1875-76 and received the brevet of Lieutenant-Colonel in July 1876.

Nicolls was confirmed in the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in August 1879 and became brevet Colonel in July 1881. Promoted to Major-General in August 1890, he became Colonel Commandant, Royal Artillery, in November 1894, and retired in July 1896. Major-General Nicolls died at Chichester on 15 October 1920.