FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of the Heroes: CPT Charles H. Upham VC ~ Aug. 20, 2007

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[StarCMC]

Our Troops Rock!  Thank you for all you do!

For the freedom you enjoyed yesterday... Thank the Veterans who served in The United States Armed Forces.

Looking forward to tomorrow's freedom? Support The United States Armed Forces Today!

~ Hall of Heroes ~

CPT Charles Hazlitt Upham VC

           

Captain Charles Hazlitt Upham VC and bar (September 21, 1908 - November 22, 1994) was a New Zealand solider who won the Victoria Cross twice during World War II. Earning the Victoria Cross and Bar for outstanding gallantry and leadership in Crete in May 1941, and at Ruweisat Ridge, Egypt, in July 1942. He is only the third person to receive the Victoria Cross twice and the only combat soldier to receive the award twice.

Upham was born in Christchurch, New Zealand on September 21, 1908. He was educated at Christ's College and Lincoln College where he earned a Diploma in Agriculture.

He worked first as a farm manager, then as farm valuer for the government of New Zealand.

Follow the outbreak of World War II, Upham immediately volunteered for service, citing his reason for doing so as the desire to fight for justice. He enlisted in the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force in October 1939 and left for Egypt with the advance party of the 2nd NZEF in December 1939 as a sergeant in the 20th NZ Battalion. He was later commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in November 1940.

 

First Victoria Cross

In March 1941 his battalion left for Greece and then withdrew to Crete, and it was here, as a Second Lieutenant, that he was wounded in the action in which he gained his first Victoria Cross.

The Victoria Cross was received for his actions from May 22, 1941 until May 30, 1941.

He displayed outstanding gallantry in close-quarter fighting, when blown up by two mortar shells and badly wounded. In spite of this and an attack of dysentery which reduced him to a skeletal appearance, he refused hospital treatment and carried a badly wounded man to safety when forced to retire. Eight days later he beat off an attack at Sphakia, 22 Germans falling to his accurate fire.
 

Second Victoria Cross

Upham was evacuated to Egypt. Now promoted to the rank of Captain. He received the bar for his actions on July 14, 1941 and July 15, 1941.

When leading his company attacking an enemy held ridge overlooking the El Alamein battlefield, he was wounded twice but took the objective after fierce fighting. He personally destroyed a German tank, several guns and vehicles with grenades. Upham was shot through the elbow with a machine gun bullet and had his arm shattered, he went on again to a forward position and brought back some of his men who had become isolated.

After his wounds were dressed, he returned to his men but was again severely wounded and unable to move. He was eventually overrun by the superior weight of the enemy forces and taken as a prisoner of war.

After being captured by the Germans, he was sent to an Italian Hospital to recuperate. During captivity he attempted to escape numerous times before being branded "dangerous" by the Germans and incarcerated in the infamous prison fortress Colditz castle.

Post War

Charles Upham returned to New Zealand in September 1945 and ceased Expeditionary Force service in November 1945. Shortly afterward his return he married Molly McTamney.

Following the war Charles Upham took up the New Zealand government's scheme of offering ex-soldiers the chance of a farm of their own. He lived out the rest of his life in peace and solitude on his farm in Hunadlee, North Canterbury.

Charles Upham died on November 22, 1994 in Christchurch, New Zealand.

The ashes of Upham were buried in the graveyard of St. Paul's Church Papanui, following his death.

When King George VI enquired to Major-General Kippenberger whether Upham deserved a Bar to the Cross, Kippenberger replied, "In my respectful opinion, sir, Upham has won the VC several times over."

Information found here.

Please remember the Canteen is here to honor, support and entertain our troops and their families.  This is a politics-free zone!  Thanks for helping us in our mission!

And thanks, DieHard The Hunter, for the heads up on this hero!

[The Mayor]

Amen to that!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Military Sealift Ship HMNZS CHARLES UPHAM

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Taz...((HUGS))...hope you’ve had a good day...not too many crazies.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Thanks, Mayor, for today’s sustenance for body and soul.

[TASMANIANRED]

Kinda scary for me to have a deep thought isn’t it...LOL.

[TASMANIANRED]

Nothing very remarkable today...nothing to add a page to the book that we will write one day.

Uneventful is good....

Did you see that a guy found a life preserver from the Edmund Fitzgerald?

[laurenmarlowe]

United States Marine Corps Band~National Anthem

[Old Sarge]

VERY first year!

Take a look at THESE:

Most of the entries on this shelf, with the exception of the blue ribbon in the front, are ours...

Second view of those - the place mats in the front were The Boy's entry in the adult division...

Missus had the two white entries on top and botton (the bottom got her a red ribbon) - the long red wall hanging on the left, with the red ribbon, is mine...

The Boy Scores! He snagged the Blue Ribbon entry with a rug made of bread wrappers - I was eating sandwiches for weeks to supply him...

This one is NOT ours, but I am so in awe - this was the state-wide Best In Show for Quilting, it's over 12 feet tall and everyone was admiring it!

[laurenmarlowe]

A U.S. Army soldier takes a break in the doorway of a house during a security mission in Baqubah, Iraq, on Aug. 10, 2007. Soldiers from Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment are conducting operations in the city to capture insurgents and locate weapons caches. DoD photo by Staff Sgt. Shawn Weismiller, U.S. Air Force. (Released)

U.S. Army paratroopers from Red Platoon, Charlie Troop, 1st Squadron, 91st Cavalry Regiment (Airborne) navigate to Observation Post Chuck Norris in Dangam, Afghanistan. DoD photo by Sgt. Brandon Aird, U.S. Army. (Released)

U.S. Marines inspect and clear a road for possible improvised explosive devices during a sweep south of Al Asad Air Base, on Iraq, on Aug. 7, 2007. The Marines are attached to Marine Wing Support Squadron 271. DoD photo by Lance Cpl. James F. Cline III, U.S. Marine Corps. (Released)

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Sarge....are you managing in the heat? Did you get to sword yesterday? Are you all healed up yet?

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, amom. Hope you've had a nice weekend. Our thanks to Chris for choosing to serve our country. Head high, Proud Mom.

[TASMANIANRED]

You guys do beautiful work. I’m very proud of you.

The quilt is a thing of beauty.

Mighty expensive way to display it too..

[amom]

Thanks for the hug and here’s one bac’at’cha. (HUG)

Glad to be here if even just off and on.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Star gave the Pinger an award, but the Pinger had a heads up that the thread was going up. So the Pinger is sharing the awards tonight. d:o) You can have both....one literal and the other to share.

[mware]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WDrbbtaO0E

[Old Sarge]

No fighting yesterday, spent the last two days at the state fair.

Still feel tight in the ribcage, but the foot has healed well.

[HopeandGlory]

Good morning Troops, Veterans and Canteeners.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Our Flag Flying Proudly One Nation Under God

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Lord, Please Bless Our Troops, They're fighting for our Freedom.

Prayers going up.

[amom]

Joining in on the congratulations here.

What a stunning couple!

What a fantastic son.

I do love those dress blues!

[MeekMom]

Star!!
Howdy sweetie!
(((hugs)))

[MeekMom]

re: 29
What a gorgeous couple!
God bless them.