Double Winner Of V.C. Made Honorary “Dink”

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30065, 25 February 1963, Page 12

Double Winner Of V.C. Made Honorary “Dink”

Five hundred veterans of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade gave a standing ovation to Mr C. H. Upham, V.C. and Bar, at the Winter Garden on Saturday evening. The occasion was the ninth Dominion reunion dinner of the brigade, and the ovation was given when Mr Upham, described as “the sort of man who should have belonged to this brigade," was made an honorary life member of the “Dinks.”

Mr Upham thanked the men by saying it was a very great privilege and honour. "It would be, in fact, for anyone who has read of your exploits,” he said. Earlier, Mr Upham gave a message of goodwill to the “Dinks” on behalf of soldiers of World War 11. He told them that, whether they

knew it or not, the reputation of the Ist New Zealand Expeditionary Force had made the 2nd N.Z.E.F.

“I would like to tell you that wherever we went in the last war we constantly basked in your reputation,” he said. “Even early in the piece when we got overseas as untried rookies we were treated nearly everywhere as proven soldiers.

"It was then, perhaps more than at any other time, that we all realised just how very much we owed to the men of the First World War and the fine example you set us,” he said.

The toast of “The Queen” was proposed by the chairman of the reunion committee (Mr J. K. Moloney). The president of the Christchurch Returned Services’ Association (Mr A. S. Farrar) proposed the toast to “The Brigade" and Mr L. M. Inglis, S.M., replied.

Mr L. M. Blyth proposed the toast of “The Canterbury Association,” and the reply was given by Dr. L. C. L. Averill.

Former officers present included Sir Leonard Isitt, Sir Herbert Hart, and the Chief Justice (Sir Harold Barrowclough). Absent comrades were remembered during the playing of “Last Post” in the darkened ballroom, and then “Reveille.” Grace and prayers were said by the Rev. L. K. Collins.

After the toasts, veterans were joined by their wives who earlier in the adjacent Sapphire room had sung choruses of some of the best known songs of World War I.