Lieutenant Nicholas Barrass died during operations in Holland. Whilst engaged in a house clearance at Flushing he was killed by a sniper who fired from an adjacent building. Son of Nicholas William and Elizabeth Rutherford Barrass, of Felling, Gateshead, Co. Durham.

Nicholas Barrass was commissioned Second Lieutenant on 2 October 1943. Lieut. Murdoch McDougall, No.4 Commando, 3 Troop, described him as "a tall quiet spoken policeman, who had played football for Gateshead." McDougall adds, "He had come to us at a difficult time just before the big advance through France had started, so it was not until the training for this Flushing operation that we had really got to know him".

In 1939 Nicholas Barrass was a Police Constable residing at 84 Cliffe Road, Bradford. He later volunteered for the Commandos, his service number indicating he was likely part of the Police Intakes to the Commando Basic Training Centre that commenced in 1942. More precise details of his service prior to, or immediately after, his commission, are not known by this archive. His name is amongst those recorded on the Bradford City Police War Memorial Plaque located at the Bradford Police Museum, Town Hall, Norfolk Gardens, Bradford.