LONDON ACCLAMATION

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXV, Issue 257, 28 September 1945, Page 5

LONDON ACCLAMATION

WINNER OF DOUBLE V.C.

EIRST ETJLL COMBATANT. (N.Z. Press Association.—Copyright.) (Special Correspondent.) (Rec. 11.35 a.m.) LONDON, Sept. 27. All the British national newspapers feature Captain C. H. Upham's decoration; the majority publish his photograph and many that of . his wife.

The Times carried a story on the main news page, the headlines, stating it was the third award of a' Bar to the V.C. in 89 years. It also remarked that it was the sixth V.C. awarded to the New Zealand Military Forces and the 164th of the war. The Daily Telegraph, on the main inside news page, declared "New Zealander's Bar to V.C, Third Ever Awarded", and remarked that the announcement was made in a special supplement to the London Gazette. The Daily Herald carried a singlecolumn panel a foot deep on the front page with a photograph of Mrs Upham under the heading "V.C. Waits Down on the Farm".

The story says Mrs Upham' is the happiest woman in London. It reports their romance and how she missed seeins; him by one day in Brussels, and adds: "'Now I am waiting for a passage back to New Zealand', Mrs Upham said. 'He is getting ready our litt'le farm near Christchurch, and there we shall try to forget the war.' Lady Freyberg at that moment joined Mrs Upham, who remarked: ,'Hpr husband was my husband's inspiration.' " On an inside page the Daily Herald carries the main story and Captain Upham's photograph. The headlines say "Twice 'V.C—Once Flop in O.C.T.U. Course" and the paper reproduces its headlines published in 1941 when Captain Upham won the V.C. in Crete. "No headline can tell the heroism of these men," it says, and it remarks that Captain Upham passed out bottom of his O.C.T.U. course because his theories on military tactics clashed with those of the instructors and the textbooks. He later proved one of the finest tacticians among the junior officers of the New Zealand Division.

SKETCHES OF HEROISM

On an inside page the Daily Express, in. double column, reproduces six sketches depicting, first; Surgeonbieutenant Leake winning the V.C. and Bar at Vlakfontein in 1902 and Zonnebecke in 1915, Captain Chavasse winning them on the Somme in 1916 and at Passchendaele in 1917, and then Japtain Upham winning them in Crete in 1941 and at Ruweisat in 1942. "Today," says the Daily Mail, "the name of Captain Upham goes on the roll of heroes that previously contained only two names." It states that he returned to New Zealand before VPDay, hoping to get a crack at the Japanese, and that when the Americans freed him he borrowed equipment to carry on fighting alongside them—but was told it was. against orders. The paper adds that Captain Upham refused to talk of his experiences to his wife, who said: "He used to get awfully annoyed when I spoke of his experiences. He didn't even hint that he did anything special in the Desert." "Now his wife hopes he will take a holiday*' from sheep-farming and fly back to London to receive the V.C. from the King," the paper .adds. The News-Chronicle, features, the story on the front page under a photograph with the caption: "Hundreds.of others have done,-more: thari.X", and the headlines: "First Combatant to Win V.C. Twice." The article emphasises this point and says: "The two previous double V.C.'s were officers of the R.A.M.C." . , AMPUTATION REFUSED.

Mrs Upham is quoted as saying- " Charlie was taken by the Italians. His last wound had smashed his arm. They took him to a prison hospital and while he lay there a doctor marked his arm with a blue pencil. He asked another New Zealander what the mark was. 'They are taking off your arm', he was told. When the Italians tried to put him on the operating table he fought them all and would not have his arm amputated He shiul that he would not

go home with his arm off. so they threw him into a cell."

Both the Daily Sketch and the Mirror feature the award. The Sketch has a front-page story under a photograph of Captain Upham and the headline: "At Bottom of O.C.T.U. Class, But He's Now Double V.C." It also shows Lady Freyberg shaking hands with Mrs Upham and on the inside page carries full-page headings: "DouHe V.C. Fought on Till He Couldn't Move", and "Won First as Live Skeleton".

The Daily Mirror has a front-page head and shoulders photograph of Mrs Upham under the heading: "She's the Wife of a Double V.C", and devotes nearly half its back page to the story. Mrs Upham is quoted as saying: "Poor Charlie. He's so shy he'll probably take to the bush for a few days."

MR FRASER'S MESSAGE

(Press Assn) WELLINGTON, Sept. 27 "On behalf of the Government, I congratulate you most warmly on the signal honour bestowed upon you by the King," says the Prime Minister (Mr Eraser) in a message to Captain Upham. "All the people of New Zealand rejoice at the honour which has been added to your name. The recognition of an hour of superb heroism' has brought honour not only to yourself, but also to your gallant comrades, to the New Zealand Expeditionary Force and to New Zealand itself. The knowledge that, in this war of all the British Empire forces, you have received its rarest award, has given the greatest joy to everyone. In congratulating you, I feel I am voicing the warmest feelings of pride which are in the hearts of all your fellow countrymen."