CAPTAIN UPHAM V.C.

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 October 1945, Page 2

CAPTAIN UPHAM V.C.

DECLINES GIFT OF FARM . CHRISTCHURCH, October 22. The Mayor of Christchurch (Mr. E. H. Andrews), as chairman of the central committee which has been organising a Canterbury fund to recognise the distinguished services of Captain C. H. Upham, V.C, and bar, has received a letter I’roni Captain Upham in which he says that he cannot consent to any material gain for himself for any services that he may have rendered, and therefore wishes to decline “the province’s most generously intended gift.” Captain Upham suggests" that the fund should be used to alleviate genuine distress among the children of men who died in the war and to help to brighten the lives of men who, “because of some war disability, are unable to live a full life in the community. Captain Upham’s . letter to the Mayor .reads as follows: — “As you can imagine, I am having great difficulty in composing this letter which I want you to read and pass on to the other gentlemen of the committee which met in this city and decided, on behalf of the Canterbury Province, to present me with a gift of money to purchase a farm. I am deeply conscious of the honour intended to be bestowed upon me and I shall always carry with me the knowledge in my heart that the people of Canterbury wished to pay me such a wonderful tribute. “The military honours bestowed upon me are the property of the men of my unit as well as. myself, and were obtained a.t considerable cost of the blood of this country. Under no circumstances could I consent to any material gain for myself for any services that I, in conjunction with 100,000 more, rendered to the Empire in her hour of peril, and I most humbly request that you will understand my position in having to decline the province’s most generously intended gift. “This, as you all know only too well, was a war for survival; and if we had not had wholehearted support from all members of the Empire we would not have attained victory over our enemies.. It would be unworthy of the occasion for any member of the Empire to have benefited in any way through having carried out his or her duty during the last six years. Some of us have been fated to play a more glamorous role than others. Many serving overseas have not returned; others have returned unable to live a full life, condemned to disability and sickness, whilst I am little the worse for my experiences. ? . “Could I suggest,’Sir, that the fund which you all so generously proposed to give to. me be used to alleviate genuine distress among the. children of those men who gave their all for us, and to help brighten the lives of those men who, because of some war disability, are unable to lead a lull life in the community. “Trusting, Sir, that you will not think me ungracious and that you will convey my wishes in this matter to your fellow committeemen.”