FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: Charles Hazlitt Upham ~ April 20, 2015

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~ 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!

41 posted on 04/19/2015 11:39:24 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska (((~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~)))

Every time I go downstairs, or anyone comes to the house, she says, “use the chair”. I do on occasion. d:o)

42 posted on 04/20/2015 12:03:53 AM PDT by Kathy in Alaska (((~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~)))

To: LUV W; Kathy in Alaska; StarCMC

A very pleasant good Monday morning to everyone at the Canteen and to all our military at home and abroad. Thanks for your service to our country.

((HUGS))Good morning, Ladies. Thanks for this morning's thread, Star. How's it going?

43 posted on 04/20/2015 1:07:29 AM PDT by E.G.C.

To: Kathy in Alaska

44 posted on 04/20/2015 1:07:42 AM PDT by E.G.C.

To: StarCMC; Kathy in Alaska; GodBlessUSA; LUV W; Arrowhead1952; E.G.C.; HiJinx; AZamericonnie; ...

Good morning, Canteen.

Good morning to our

Military, our Allies, and their families.

Thank you, Star, for preparing
the Canteen for today’s activities.

R I P
Captain Charles Hazlitt Upham VC and bar
(September 21, 1908 - November 22, 1994)
World War II
Job well done.

Weekend wasn't too bad; weather was nice.
Finished it off with rain.
Now it's Monday

Off to make my rounds.
But please stay right where you are.
Chat up the military or a family member.
No need to fret...you know I'll be back!

The FR Canteen is

Come in and sit for a while.
There's always plenty of coffee, tea,
pancakes, conversation, silliness,
and plain old BS

REMEMBER THEM ~ DEFENDERS OF FREEDOM

FR CANTEEN MISSION STATEMENT

Showing support and boosting the morale of our military and our allied military and the family members of the above. Honoring those who have served before.

45 posted on 04/20/2015 4:23:18 AM PDT by beachn4fun (The only hyphen you need...American - or not!)

To: Kathy in Alaska

46 posted on 04/20/2015 4:55:15 AM PDT by luvie (All my heroes wear camos! Thank you David, Michael, Chris, Txradioguy, JJ, CMS, & ALL Vets, too!)

((HUGS))Good morning, Beach. How’s it going?

47 posted on 04/20/2015 4:58:47 AM PDT by E.G.C.

To: beachn4fun; y'all; Arrowhead1952; E.G.C.; GodBlessUSA; ConorMacNessa; Kathy in Alaska; HiJinx; ...

Stupid question!
Mondays are the armpit of the week! LOL!
Hope all you Early Birds survive it!
....and get home for a restful evening!
((((hugs))))

Arrow...please do everything to get better!

48 posted on 04/20/2015 5:05:53 AM PDT by luvie (All my heroes wear camos! Thank you David, Michael, Chris, Txradioguy, JJ, CMS, & ALL Vets, too!)

Good morning Beachie!

It was a nice weekend had by all; lovely weather and good company.

Son and I and a friend had fun out at target practice with various 2nd Amendment implements.

This will be short week as I'm taking a few days off to go see daughter and BIL/sister.

I hope your weekend was restful, ready for retirement?

Have a great day!

49 posted on 04/20/2015 5:12:57 AM PDT by PROCON (CRUZing into 2016 with TED!)

50 posted on 04/20/2015 5:22:39 AM PDT by beachn4fun (The only hyphen you need...American - or not!)

Good morning EG ((HUGS))

It’s ok. I mean it’s Monday so I can’t be too happy about it.

Howz it out your way? Did you get any of that latest storm?

51 posted on 04/20/2015 5:23:29 AM PDT by beachn4fun (The only hyphen you need...American - or not!)

To: Kathy in Alaska

Good morning, Kathy...((HUGS))...no visitors yesterday, none due for a couple of months.

52 posted on 04/20/2015 5:39:09 AM PDT by SandRat (Duty - Honor - Country! What else needs said?)

Good morning night owl ((HUGS))

Yeah, it’s Monday. Are you off today?

53 posted on 04/20/2015 5:56:50 AM PDT by beachn4fun (The only hyphen you need...American - or not!)

Good morning Pro ((HUGS))

WooHoo! Sounds like you had a grand weekend. And, good for you for taking off for visiting. That’s the good part of retirement...and YES! I am ready. Starting in May, I’ve arranged to start taking every other FRiday off, which should correspond with my posting night so I can hang around a bit longer (unless I can’t keep my eyes open) than normal.

My granddaughter is running the Boston Marathon today! Going to be online as much as possible to see if I can track her.

Have a marvelicious Monday.

54 posted on 04/20/2015 6:01:17 AM PDT by beachn4fun (The only hyphen you need...American - or not!)

To: beachn4fun; LUV W

It's going OK. One week from today is my Colonoscopy. I'm resting up to get ready for it.

No, we didn't the storms over the weekend but the storm alarm did go off on Saturday for some other parts of our area. I did mow the lawn yesterday as the grass was growing.

((HUGS))Good morning, LUV W. How's it going?

55 posted on 04/20/2015 6:09:30 AM PDT by E.G.C.

To: SandRat; Kathy in Alaska; All

FYI..since we're speaking of a New Zealand and WW II...there is a wonderful 1957 film, based on a James Michner story.. "Until They Sail" set in New Zealand during the war, about 4 sisters who get involved with 4 US Marines. Great cast..Paul Newman, Jean Simmons, Joan Fontaine..and it was Sandra Dee's screen debut.

When I was at Quantico in 68, we had several senior NCOs..lifers..on their last tour before retirement..they'd served in the Pacific..many also in Korea and Nam..and they told lots of stories...horrible ones about the Pacific war and the Japs, but also happy times about training and R&R in New Zealand and Australia.

Remember, the war, for the Commonwealth, had been going on since 1939, some 3+ years until Americans arrived in New Zealand. Just about every able bodied male had been gone all that time...so the women...well...

If you can find the movie..when it turns up on one of the classic movie networks..well worth watching..

While I'm posting, just want to add a long overdue BIG THANK YOU to Kathy and the others who are responsible for this ongoing thread. I know it's a labor of love for you guys, but we who enjoy it sometimes forget, unintentionally (of course), the time and effort you put it. It's one of the things I love best about FR...it always makes me smile, and I often learn something as well.

56 posted on 04/20/2015 6:32:04 AM PDT by ken5050 (If Hillary is elected president, what role will Huma Abedin have in the White House? Scary, eh?)

To: beachn4fun; Kathy in Alaska; LUV W

“To get my daughter’s friends interested in the games, they go there, they want to go to the team shop,” he said. “They want to get that churro dog.

A churro dog?

Yup. It’s a cinnamon churro stuffed inside a chocolate-glazed “long john” style donut, topped with three scoops of frozen yogurt, with whipped cream drizzled with caramel and chocolate sauce,

57 posted on 04/20/2015 7:46:08 AM PDT by SandRat (Duty - Honor - Country! What else needs said?)

58 posted on 04/20/2015 8:36:53 AM PDT by SandRat (Duty - Honor - Country! What else needs said?)

To: SandRat; Kathy in Alaska; AZamericonnie; mylife; tomkow6

Along about July 4th, when the mercury is headed north of 110^oF., that churro dog ought to just about hit the spot!

59 posted on 04/20/2015 9:01:21 AM PDT by HiJinx (I can see Mexico from my back porch...soon, so will you!)

To: HiJinx; Kathy in Alaska; AZamericonnie; mylife; tomkow6

available at any D - Backs game

60 posted on 04/20/2015 9:08:31 AM PDT by SandRat (Duty - Honor - Country! What else needs said?)

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