Remembering Henry

In 2002, following publicity about the donation of Henry Nicholas’ medals to Canterbury Museum, people realised that there was no public memorial for Henry. Two World War Two Victoria Cross winners were commemorated with plaques on the Bridge of Remembrance Arch but it looked as if Henry had been forgotten in his home city.

Following the establishment of a Memorial Project Committee, donations were received from local trusts, RSA branches, businesses and individuals. Canterbury District RSA and the Christchurch City Council commissioned a bronze sculpture of Henry Nicholas by Christchurch sculptor Mark Whyte, which was gifted to the City of Christchurch after its unveiling on 7 March 2007. While the statue remembers Henry’s bravery, it also serves as a reminder of the sacrifices many people made so that we have the chance to live in peace.

In Memory

The white crosses were installed in October 2017 to mark the centenary of the death of more than 840 New Zealanders on 23 October 1917 during the Battle of Passchendaele. The statue by Mark Whyte is one third larger than life size. The stone base was gifted by the people of Le Quesnoy, the main town near the village of Beaudignies where Nicholas died.