MODEST HERO

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23316, 27 September 1945, Page 4

MODEST HERO

“Did Nothing Out Of The Ordinary” Plea For Privacy And Rest (N.Z.P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH, Sept. 26’ “Naturally I feel some pride in this distinction, but hundreds of others have done more than I did. They could have given it to one of them.” With modesty which has typified everything he has said or done since his return to New Zealand, Captain C. H. Upham, V.C., made this comment five minutes after receiving to-day an urgent telegram from the Minister of Defence advising him of the award of the Bar to the V.C. When the Telegraph Office tracked Captain Upham down this morning, he was in the studio of Mr Archibald F. Nicoll, to whom he is sitting for his portrait. He received the news with complete imperturbability, and until the arrival of a reporter even Mr Nicoll was unaware of the news that has made his subject one of the most famous figures in British military history. With some Captain Upham surrendered the telegram for inspection. and Mr Nicoll was only then aware of the news. Captain Upham, whose present role of artist’s model does not sit altogether comfortably upon him, said that he had no idea what particular incident might have prompted the recommendation for this new award. He was wounded in the El Ruweisat engagement, and as he put it “things were a bit hazy.”. Captain Upham described the El Ruweisat operation as a big scale attack, “one of the big shows just before ’Monty’ took over,” he said. “It was a successful show, but there were many casualties and a lot of Christchurch chaps went west in it.” The battle took the form of a break through in which the 18th, 19th, 20th, 21st, 22nd and 23rd Battalions took part. Unfortunately the success could not be exploited and that was why so many casualties were inflicted. During the battle Captain Upham was commanding C Company of the 20th Battalion. Captain Upham does not accept the view that he is now a figure of almost unique fame. “I never did anything out of the ordinary, I can tell you that,” he protested at a suggestion that the whole Empire would be talking about him to-day. As Mr Nicoll deftly touched iip-the red of the V.C. ribbon on the portrait Captain Upham made an almost pathetic plea for some privacy and rest. While he is most appreciative of the spirit which has prompted so many welcome home celebrations and all functions arranged in his honour, he feels that sufficient has been done as far as he personally is concerned, and considers that the new distinction does not require any further public recognition. Both the doubly decorated hero and the artist hoped, probably vainly, for freedom from further interruption. “Please do not tell anybody he is here. I want to get on with this,” Mr Nicoll said, while Captain Upham suggested that his address might be given as Sumner. “That’s 40 minutes by tram,” he explained, hopefully. Citation to Award The citation reads as follows: “Captain C. H. Upham. V.C., was commanding a company of New Zealand troops in the Western Desert during operations which culminated in the attack on El Ruweisat Ridge on the night of July 14-15, 1942. In spite of being wounded twice, once when crossing open ground swept by enemy fire to inspect his forward sections guarding our minefields command, and again when he completely, destroyed an entire truck load of German soldiers with hand grenades, Captain Upham insisted on remaining vjith his men to take part in the final assault. “During the opening stages of the i attack on the ridge, Captain Upham’s company formed part of a reserve battalion, but when communications with forward troops broke dow’n, and he was instructed to send up an officer to report on the progress of the attack, i he went' out himself armed with a Spandau gun and after several sharp encounters with enemy machine-gun posts, succeeded in bringing back the required information. Just before dawn the reserve battalion was ordered forward, but when it had almost reached its objective very heavy fire was encountered from a strongly-de-fended enemy locality consisting of four machine-gun posts and a number of tanks.

“Captain Uuham. without hesitation, at once led his company in a determined attack on the two nearest strongpoints on the left flank of the section. His voice could be heard above the din of the battle cheering on his men, and in spite of the fierce resistance of the enemy and heavy casualties on both sides, the objective was captured. “Captain Upham during the engagement himself destroyed a German tank and several guns and vehicles with grenades, and although he was shot through the elbow by a machine-gun bullet, and had his arm broken, he went on again to a forward position and brought back some of his men who had become isolated. He continued to dominate the situation until his men had beaten off a violent enemy counterattack and consolidated the vital nosition which they had won under his inspiring leadership. “Exhausted by pain from his wound, and weak from loss of blood, Captain Upham was then removed to a regimental aid post, but immediately his wound had been dressed he returned to his men. remaining with them all day long under heavy enemy artillery and mortar fire until he again was severely wounded end being now unable to move, fell into the hands of the enemy when, his gallant company having been reduced to only six survivors, his position was finally overrun by superior enemy forces in spite oi the outstanding gallantry and magnificent leadership shown by Contain Upham.”