Remembering the Humble Heroics of Captain Charles Upham
Within hours of hearing his country was at war with Hitler’s Germany, “tough as teak” New Zealander, Charles Upham, rushed to his nearest recruitment office to enlist…
Volunteering for the newly formed Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force, Charles humbly declined a coveted place in an Officer Training Unit; but reluctantly relented when his superiors insisted.
Then deployed to mainland Greece, it was there, Charles and the 2nd NZEF learned the devastating meaning of the word:
“BLITZKRIEG”
Swiftly overwhelmed by the Wehrmacht’s “lightning speed, Charles and his compatriots were forced to evacuate to the British-held island of Crete, where, not long after making landfall, the German juggernaut struck again...
Thrust into a daring counterattack to retake the crucial airfield at Maleme, Charles led the spearhead that, despite being halted by a withering hail of lead, saw him regain the initiative by storming and neutralizing multiple machine gun nests.
Going on to eliminate another two German strongpoints, “the courageous Kiwi” would've pushed further, had he not been thwarted by a wailing swarm of Stuka dive bombers…
Critically wounded by shrapnel and debris, Charles was "withdrawn in protest”, and evacuated by the Royal Navy…
Disembarked in Egypt, he made a “miraculous recovery”, and was later promoted to Captain; yet, was left feeling “genuinely mortified” on learning:
“You’ve won the Victoria Cross for your Cretan exploits!”
Although adamant the award belonged not to him, but to his comrades, Charles eventually accepted his accolade; but “only if given no special treatment.”
Upon returning to his unit, the "modest hero" commanded his troops with “inspiring fashion”; first, by saving them from near destruction at Minqâr Qaim; and then, by rallying them to go on the offensive, just south of El-Alamein…
There, on the evening of this day in 1942, he was ordered to lead the assault on a vital hilltop:
“Ruweisat Ridge"
Thus, launching an audacious operation to seize it, Charles told his men to "fix bayonets" and, in the fierce fighting that ensued, "personally destroyed a German tank, several guns, and vehicles", before being riddled with bullets, blasted by mortars, and taken prisoner.
Treated in captivity for his life-threatening injuries, Charles soon garnered a reputation as an “adept escape artist”; and so, was ultimately transferred to the near-inescapable fortress at Colditz.
Finally liberated in April 1945, it wasn’t long thereafter, he received a "quite unexpected telegram…"
Informing him that he was to be bestowed a Bar to his VC, the "bemused veteran" couldn't help but wonder:
“Why have I been singled out for ‘outstanding gallantry’?”
When told, "It's in recognition of your heroics at Ruweisat", Charles paused, shook his head, and said:
“I wasn’t the only one, you know, who displayed ‘splendid courage’…”
“Kindly tell His Majesty”, Charles added, “we all did our bit on that wretched ridge.”
Addendum 1: -
The German Fallschirmjäger juggernaut making landfall on Crete during “Unternehmen Merkur” – the Wehrmacht’s invasion of May 1941.
Addendum 2: -
An aerial reconnaissance photograph showing the crucial airfield at Maleme in Crete, along with tens of Luftwaffe Junkers Ju-52 transport aircraft, destroyed by Charles and his comrades during their daring counterattack.
Ordered to retake Maleme on May 22nd, 1941, Charles and his platoon “came under heavy fire” within minutes of launching their assault…
“Four were hit”, one of his surviving men recalled, “forcing us to edge forward on our stomachs, until we were 20 yards from the Nazis…”
Utilizing the “cover fire of a Bren”, Charles “dashed ahead… wiped out seven Jerries with their Tommy guns, and one more with a machine-gun…”
“After coming under fire from another two machine-gun positions – one in a house, and the other in a shed – Charles dashed ahead again” and, on reaching the shed, “pulled the pin from a grenade, placed it in a dead German’s hand, and pushed the German into the shed…”
“Half-dozen unwounded Germans in the shed surrendered, and eight more wounded Germans were captured.”
Then, turning his attention “to the second machine-gun in the house, Charles ran towards it carrying a grenade…”
Throwing it “through a window”, he “eliminated the threat”, before "rallying the platoon to press the attack.”
Addendum 3: -
A formation of Junker Ju-87 Stuka dive-bombers flying over Crete – similar to the wailing swarm that thwarted Charles’ advance.
Addendum 4: -
Charles’ comrades of the newly-formed Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force on parade for their commander-in-chief – Lieutenant General Bernard “Tiny” Freyberg VC.
Created for the specific purpose of fighting overseas, more than 100,000 “Kiwis” volunteered to serve in the ranks of the 2nd NZEF during the Second World War.
Serving in both European and North African theatres, its soldiers distinguished themselves in battles “fought magnificently” in Greece and Crete; Egypt and Tunisia; and mainland Italy.
There, “the elite of the Allied Armies” concluded their “war-winning contribution”, before being demobilized following Germany’s unconditional surrender in May 1945.
Addendum 5: -
Charles being presented with his first richly-deserved Victoria Cross, on November 4th, 1941, by his then-Commander-in-Chief in North Africa – then-General Claude Auchinleck DSO of the British Army.
Shortly thereafter, Charles was made a full lieutenant and, by the following May, had been promoted to Captain.
Less than a month after that, in late June 1942, he and his comrades of the 2nd NZEF were attacked at Minqâr Qaim, Egypt, by Generalfeldmarschall Erwin Rommel, who, in his aim to cut the New Zealanders off from their British Allies, unleashed his Deutsche Afrika Korps against them.
Finding themselves outgunned, outnumbered, and surrounded, the “Kiwis” were ordered to mount a “do-or-die” breakout, which, from the moment it began, to its bloody, yet successful conclusion:
Charles, “with his usual coolness, led his men across open ground… through small arms, machine gun, and mortar fire… to punch a hole in the well-entrenched German lines.”
“Destroying vehicle after vehicle”, with nothing more than “his pistol and a haversack of grenades”, the “conspicuous bravery” Charles “demonstrated at Minqâr Qaim” – it was said – is what “set him on the path towards his second” richly-deserved VC.
Addendum 6: -
Charles being warmly congratulated by his platoon sergeant after being presented with his first richly-deserved VC.
Addendum 7: -
Charles comrades of the 2nd NZEF recapture a German-commandeered British-made Matilda tank and its crew in North Africa.
Addendum 8: -
Charles’ comrades of the 2nd NZEF setting up a British-made 2-pounder Quick Firing anti-tank gun Minqâr Qaim, before being attacked by Generalfeldmarschall Erwin Rommel and his Deutsche Afrika Korps.
Addendum 9: -
Soldiers of the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force manning a British-made Vickers machine gun at Ruweisat Ridge, Egypt.
Seized by Rommel and his Deutsche Afrika Korps on July 1st,1942, the 2nd NZEF set out to recapture the all-important Ruweisat on the evening of July 14th.
By dawn, the New Zealanders had achieved their objective; and yet, by dusk, found themselves in a desperate struggle for survival…
Counterattacked by Rommel and his panzers, the latter smashed the “Kiwi’” lines, leaving elements of the 2nd cut-off, and surrounded on all sides.
Although Charles and his company were being held in reserve at the time, he “wasn’t going to sit around” while his comrades were "fighting and dying…"
Thus, rallying his troops to bayonet charge the enemy, bullets tore through Charles’ bicep, and shattered his arm at the elbow; but still he pressed on, "personally destroying a German tank, several guns, and vehicles” in the attack.
Upon saving his “pals”, and securing Ruweisat, he then allowed himself to be evacuated to a Regimental Aid Post for medical treatment.
Shortly thereafter, Charles returned to his men, with whom, he was attacked again, and captured when a mortar exploded at his feet, rendering him unable to stand.
Addendum 10: -
Charles enjoying a cigarette after becoming entangled by barbed wire during one of his many escape attempts.
Shortly after he was captured, Charles was rushed to a German military field hospital, where, upon being told Doctors were going to amputate his badly mangled limbs – without anesthetic – he saved his own life by telling them to “shove it”.
Thus, leaving him to “recover” on his “own terms”, Charles was then shipped to a POW camp on the Italian mainland, from where, he was later transferred to another in Germany.
There, he planned and attempted several escapes; only, regrettably, to be recaptured every time.
Owing to his “repeated prison breaches”, Charles’ captors sought to “crush” his spirit by shuttling him in and out of solitary confinement.
When their “efforts” failed, the decision was made to send the “habitual escapee” to the one place they believed would break his “habit”:
The near-inescapable fortress – "Oflag IV-C” – at Colditz.
Addendum 11: -
A recent photograph of the near-inescapable fortress at Colditz.
Despite believing “Oflag IV-C” would break Charles’ “escaping habit”, the “habitual escapee” didn’t wait long to prove the Germans wrong…
First, he attempted an almost-suicidal escape by jumping from the fast-moving train that was transporting him there; only to be recaptured when he was found hiding, semi-conscious, with a broken foot, in a remote orchard.
Then, soon after his arrival, in 1944, he made another audacious attempt by brazenly walking out of the front gate…
Awed by “his incredible audacity”, the guard who spotted Charles went on to recall that he “didn’t have the nerve to shoot him”; and so, “let him run.”
Although swiftly caught, returned to Colditz, and placed in solitary confinement, Charles later expressed that he “didn’t begrudge the punishment…”
“On the contrary”, he said, “the whole experience I found quite exhilarating.”
Addendum 12: -
Charles with one of his closest comrades – and fellow Victoria Cross winner – Sergeant John “Jack” Hinton – shortly after being presented with their richly-deserved medals by King George VI at Buckingham Palace, on May 11th, 1945.
When the King pinned Charles’ VC and Bar on his chest, His Majesty is said to have expressed:
“Well, Captain Upham, I believe this is not your only award. I'm told you've just received a mention in dispatches for your attempts to escape. Congratulations for that, too.”
“Tell me, though,” the King enquired, “what have you been doing since you arrived in London?".
"Mostly eating, Sir" Charles replied.
Addendum 13: -
Charles’ complete set of richly-deserved medals and accolades. From left to right:
His Victoria Cross and Bar; 1939-1945 Star; Africa Star; Defence Medal; War Medal; 1939-1945 (With Mid-Oak Leaf); New Zealand War Service Medal; Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal; Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal; and, finally, his New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal.
Much to his family’s shock and upset, Charles’ VC was one of nine stolen in December 2007 from locked, reinforced glass cabinets, at New Zealand’s National Army Museum in Waiōuru.
Thanks to, however, a $300,000 New Zealand Dollar reward offered by British-Belizian businessman, Lord Michael Ashcroft, and his “Kiwi” counterpart, Tom Sturgess, all the medals were recovered by police in February 2008.
Addendum 14: -
In addition to having several public thoroughfares and a Royal New Zealand Navy ship – HMSNZ CHARLES UPHAM (A02) – named in his honor, this magnificent bronze statue of Charles in the small town of Amberly, North Canterbury, stands as a “permanent reminder” of his “heroism and bravery”.
Addendum 15: -
Twenty-one-year-old Charles in his Rugby polo shirt, while playing for the first team at Canterbury’s Agricultural College, New Zealand.
There, Charles studied agriculture, veterinary science, and economics.
Graduating with First Honors in 1930, he spent the next six years of his life working as a shepherd, musterer, and farm manager, before becoming a district land appraiser.
In February 1939, Charles returned to college, where, seven months into his valuation diploma, he “parked” his studies to fulfil a “far more important” patriotic endeavor:
Answering the call of duty “to serve King and Empire” as a soldier of the newly-formed Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force.
Addendum 16: -
Charles with his cherished wife, Molly.
Seen here in her British Red Cross nurses’ uniform, Molly met Charles while working as a dietician at Christchurch Hospital, New Zealand.
There, in 1935, Charles proposed with an “armful of red roses”; but had to wait until June 1945 before he could marry his “pretty brunette.”
Wed in a small ceremony at a church in Barton-on-Sea, Hampshire, England, the beloved couple returned to New Zealand in 1946.
Soon after their arrival, a grateful nation raised the present-day equivalent of almost $750,000 New Zealand Dollars for Charles to purchase a huge farm.
Rather than accept the money, though, the ever-humble war hero “politely declined the offer”, telling the fundraisers to “use it as a seed corn for a scholarship fund”, enabling children of servicemen to study at college or university.
Shortly thereafter, Charles applied for a war rehabilitation loan, which, in turn, allowed him to buy the farm where he and Molly lived, worked, and raised their three daughters.
When ill-health forced them to sell in January 1994, they retired to Charles’ native Christchurch, where, just ten months later, the double VC winner was laid to rest with full military honors.
Addendum 17: -
Charles shortly before his passing, aged 86, on November 22nd, 1994.