The life of Charles Upham
The Victorian cross is not normally given to soldiers, in fact, it is normally given to people like nurses. Charles Upham is an NZ soldier that was the only infantry soldier to receive the VC two times. The other 2 people that got this were both doctors. Here is the story of Charles Upham.
Early Life
Charles Hazlitt Upham was born 21st September 1908 in central Christchurch. He went to Waihi school and Christ's college for his education, later attending an agriculture college where he got a diploma in agriculture. He then began working as a sheep farmer and later on a manager. In 1938 he became engaged to Mary (Molly) Eileen McTammey.
Enlistment
In September 1939 Charles Upham enlisted into the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force. He signed up as a private even though he previously had 5 years of experience in the New Zealand Territorial Army as a sergeant. He was quickly promoted to Lance Corporal but declined to join the Officer Cadet Training Unit. In December he was then promoted to sergeant and went off to Egypt.
First VC
His first VC was during may 1941 after being injured in battle. His VC was rewarded for remarkable tactics and many well-fought situations. One quite a few occasions his group were under machine gun fire, however, Charles managed to take out these machine guns before they could do much harm either with grenades or a pistol. On another occasion, he had to travel through 600 yards killing two Germans just to reach a group of soldiers that were stranded. His group then had to hold down an exposed area that was constantly under fire. He sustained multiple injuries being nearly hit by a mortar shell and taking a bullet to a foot later to be removed in Egypt. After several more encounters, his exhausted troops had to go to a ravine to stop a small German party going through the ravine to a nearby HQ. He with two other Rifleman managed to get up on top of the ravine and shoot many of the German troops. During this whole time, he suffered from dysentery and could only eat very little. Thus earning him his first VC.
On the 26th of September 1945, Charles Upham was awarded his second VC. During a mission which resulted in the battle of El Ruweisat Ridge Upham was wounded twice but kept on fighting. The first injury was from enemy bullet spray and the second was from when he destroyed a truck of Germans with a couple of hand grenades. At the beginning of the battle, Charles troops served as a reserve and at one point lost communication with the front lines. He was given orders by a higher up to send an officer to get information on what happened. However, instead, he went up into enemy lines to retrieve the information. He had to dodge several command posts and manage to return with the information successfully. On dawn the next day his group of troops were ordered to advance forward and nearly reached the objective with ease when massive amounts of German troops began to shoot at them. With some good strategy, Charles managed to take out the Germans with lower casualties than what could have happened and captured the objective. He himself destroyed a German tank and several other vehicles and troops with grenades even with his elbow broken and being shot in the ankle. Exhausted from pain and blood loss he was moved to a hospital and when he was bandaged he insisted to leave immediately to join back in. He was later attacked and captured.
Upham was first transported to an Italian hospital where his arm was recommended to be amputated. However, Upham had seen several of his fellow troops die painfully because of this process and refused. He later had his wound dressed by another POW that was a doctor and remained in hospital. He attempted several escapes that all failed and caused him to be labelled as dangerous by the Germans. One of his escape attempts was in a truck containing multiple POW's, he jumped out of the truck and managed to get 370M before being recaptured. Later on when in a prison camp he tried to climb over the barbed fence but got tangled at the top, once he came untied he fell down and a German soldier managed to run up to him and tried to get him to stand up and come back with a gun pointed at his head. He however just smocked in front of the guard as if nothing was happening. At this point, he was considered highly dangerous, he was separated from all POW's and was guarded at all times with a machine gun turret in place near his jail. He once again attempted escape and got decently far, after this he was moved to Colditz prison camp. On the way to there through a train, he managed to escape into a field but however was captured again. He then once at the prison camp didn't attempt to break out as the war was ending. When rescued he tried to join in on the fight but was sent back home instead.
After returning to New Zealand he was given $10,000 by the community but instead of taking it he gave it to Lincon university. For 20 years he lived as a farmer until poor health forced him into Christchurch city where on 22nd November 1994 he died.
Second VC
On the 26th of September 1945, Charles Upham was awarded his second VC. During a mission which resulted in the battle of El Ruweisat Ridge Upham was wounded twice but kept on fighting. The first injury was from enemy bullet spray and the second was from when he destroyed a truck of Germans with a couple of hand grenades. At the beginning of the battle, Charles troops served as a reserve and at one point lost communication with the front lines. He was given orders by a higher up to send an officer to get information on what happened. However, instead, he went up into enemy lines to retrieve the information. He had to dodge several command posts and manage to return with the information successfully. On dawn the next day his group of troops were ordered to advance forward and nearly reached the objective with ease when massive amounts of German troops began to shoot at them. With some good strategy, Charles managed to take out the Germans with lower casualties than what could have happened and captured the objective. He himself destroyed a German tank and several other vehicles and troops with grenades even with his elbow broken and being shot in the ankle. Exhausted from pain and blood loss he was moved to a hospital and when he was bandaged he insisted to leave immediately to join back in. He was later attacked and captured.
POW
Upham was first transported to an Italian hospital where his arm was recommended to be amputated. However, Upham had seen several of his fellow troops die painfully because of this process and refused. He later had his wound dressed by another POW that was a doctor and remained in hospital. He attempted several escapes that all failed and caused him to be labelled as dangerous by the Germans. One of his escape attempts was in a truck containing multiple POW's, he jumped out of the truck and managed to get 370M before being recaptured. Later on when in a prison camp he tried to climb over the barbed fence but got tangled at the top, once he came untied he fell down and a German soldier managed to run up to him and tried to get him to stand up and come back with a gun pointed at his head. He however just smocked in front of the guard as if nothing was happening. At this point, he was considered highly dangerous, he was separated from all POW's and was guarded at all times with a machine gun turret in place near his jail. He once again attempted escape and got decently far, after this he was moved to Colditz prison camp. On the way to there through a train, he managed to escape into a field but however was captured again. He then once at the prison camp didn't attempt to break out as the war was ending. When rescued he tried to join in on the fight but was sent back home instead.
After War
After returning to New Zealand he was given $10,000 by the community but instead of taking it he gave it to Lincon university. For 20 years he lived as a farmer until poor health forced him into Christchurch city where on 22nd November 1994 he died.
This is really good work keep it up!
ReplyDeleteKia Ora Brayden, I have a special affinity with CHarles Upham. I remember studying him at school when I was in yr 5. Did you know there is a statue of him in Amberley? I remember watching that statue being designed and built because my dad was the model. So really its a statue of Mr Richardson with Charles Uphams head stuck on the top!
ReplyDeleteWhen researching about him I did find out about the statue and I believe a boat that was made in his name. The boat sunk I believe after a couple of weeks - a couple of months.
Delete