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

linked in thread | Mickey Mouse

[StarCMC]

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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!

[StarCMC]

Special ping to you!

[StarCMC]

New thread’s up! Come read about a hero!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Click on the pic and I'll guide you
to the start of today's thread




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[SandRat]

Salute!

[StarCMC]

FIRST!

[StarCMC]

SECOND!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Thanks, Mickey Mouse, for helping Star with today's Hall of the Heroes: CPT Charles H Upham VC

[TASMANIANRED]

Thanks for the Thread Star...

[Kathy in Alaska]

LOL! The pinger doesn’t count. Something about a head start. d:o)

[StarCMC]

Hey - you're welcome!!

THIRD!

[The Mayor]

August 20, 2007

Consumer Mentality

ODB RADIO: Listen Now | Download

READ: 1 Corinthians 3:5-15

If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. —1 Corinthians 3:14

I like to read, and I enjoy buying books. But I don’t like it when publishers refer to me as a “consumer.” The word consume can mean “do away with completely” or “spend wastefully.” It brings to mind forest fires that devour acre after acre of vegetation, leaving behind only scorched remnants of trees and homes. When we read books, we don’t consume them in that sense, for they don’t cease to exist after we’ve used them. In fact, quite the opposite is true. They become a part of us; they change us.

This is especially true of the Bible. When the words of Scripture remain in us, they keep us from taking the destructive way of sin (Ps. 119:11). Jesus said that when His words abide in us, we will bear much fruit (John 15:5-8). In other words, we will be creators, not consumers; givers, not takers.

The apostle Paul referred to Christians as “God’s fellow workers” (1 Cor. 3:9), who are to build things that cannot be consumed in the fire of God’s judgment of their works (vv.13-15). Later he urged readers to excel in gifts that build up the church (14:12).

As Christians, let’s be known not for the goods we consume but for the good fruit we produce. 

Thinking It Over
Why does God give us spiritual gifts? (Eph. 4:11-13).
On what are we to build our works? (1 Cor. 3:10-11).
What is the result of work that will last? (1 Cor. 3:14).

A selfless life reaps an eternal harvest.

Bible in One Year:   Psalms 105-106; 1 Corinthians 3

[StarCMC]

Eh - you deserve recognition once in a while, IMNSHO!!

[StarCMC]

FOURTH!

And thanks for the good words from the Good Word!

[AZamericonnie]

Supporting our Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Airmen, and Coast Guardsmen
at more than 1,000 places across the U. S. and around the world.

~Tribute to Our Troops~

[StarCMC]

FIFTH!

And thanks for posting your Tribute to the Troops!

[StarCMC]

(I love that Mickey picture!!)

[Old Sarge]

I’M IN HERE SOMEPLACE!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Honoring Our Heroes

Allegra
3 sons (armymarinemom and amdad)
Brett (CindyDawg)
Brother and Son-in-Law (kalee)
Cannoneer No. 4
Col Mike (gpapa)
CMS
David (LUV W)
Defender2
Ev (MozartLover)
Future Snake Eater (RightOnline)
Jade Falcon
JemiansTerror (Jemian)
Jet Jaguar
Joel (NEMDF)
Jonathan (AZbushgal)
Josh (doug from upland)
Karen (fatima's granddaughter)
KB4W (arbee4bush)
Kenneth (Sweetbaby/LadyPilgrim)
Kevin (skimask)
Kevin and David (vigilante2)
Laurita
LCpl Carter
Lindsay (Sweetbaby/LadyPilgrim)
Capt Jason Clendenin (friend of Frou)
M1Tanker
MEG33's Navy Grandson
Mike1Sg (mystery-ak)
Milo828 (mystery-ak)
Nate (sneakers)
Old Sarge
OneLoyalAmerican
Robert, Jeremy & Daynnis (SoldierDad)
Sgt Sean Reed (preed)
Son (GodBlessUSA)
Terrence (LadyPilgrim)
The Sailor
tongue-tied
Tonkin
txradioguy
Victor and Tony D (weldgophardline)
William (jackv)

 

[skimask]

He got married yesterday