GERMAN-HATER UPHAM

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 96, 24 April 1945, Page 5

GERMAN-HATER UPHAM

SPECIALLY GUARDED BY THE GERMANS SOME OF HIS EXPERIENCES. (Special Corregpoo, lent•—N.Z. P. A.) Reed. 11.10 p.m. London, April 23. “An incorrigable German hater,” I they called him, and for that reason, and because he was always attempting to escape, the Germans sent Captain Charles Upham, V.C., of Christchurch, to a mediaeval castle at Colditz south of Leipzig. In this ancient pile, with its thick, stone walls and dungeons,, which had been used for prisoners during the last war, were housed high-ranking and :high-born prisoners, men who were [classified as German naters,’* and ’prisoners who trLd persistently to es [rape. Ceptain Upham, therefore, had l (the dstinclior. of qualifying for the' past tw . classifications, it was there that the King’s nephew Mr. Church- ' ill’s nephew, Mr. Winant's son, and ether notables were kept until the ap|proa:h of lhe Americans when they I were moved in th' micelle of lhe night Ito be held as hostages. With them 'also were taken two Maoris, probably | to act as batmen—Privates V. McLean ■and R. Mitai, both of North Auckland. . 1 It is thought this party have been i taken to Salzburg, to he held against [the lives of Hitler and his high-rank-I ing Nazis. I Men of all nationalities were kept in this castle and they included, in addition to British and Americans, Polish generals captured ’at Warsaw, de Gaullist and Vichy French; also Dutch and Germans who had witeness ed atrocities and “knew too much.” Captain Upham, who is New Zealand’s second V.C. to be liberated, was taken prisoner at Ruweisat, on July . 15, 1942, when he was wounded in a leg and arm with machine-gun and I rifle bullets. The position was taken by the 12st Panzer Division who be- ; haved “correctly” and did their best : tor the wounded, althou*xT they suffered many casualties themselves. ILL-TREATED BY ITALIANS. Later, Captain Upham and others were handed over to the Italians, who ■ treated them abominably, allowing them to go without food and water. Eventually, they moved to Matruh on the seashore, where a British doctor , did the best he could with limited [ supplies. Three weeks later, after | continued ill-treatment by the Italians, ' Captain Upham was put. aboard a hospital ship, sharing a cabUi withwound- , ed Germans, and eventually arrived at iCaserta Hospital, near Naples, where conditions were also very bad, over- ’ crowded and with no water supply and ' bad food. Many prisoners, in addition . to their wounds, were also suffeing Ifrom dysentery and malnutrition, but [British doctors did an excellent job, despite limitations. i Al Bologna Captain Upham found conditions much better and he recovered, being sent, to Modena camp on January 7. 1943,. where the senior British officer was Colonel Shuttleiworth. Conditions at Modena, said Captain Upham, were good and the newcomers received a great welcome. i It was a source of deep annoyance among New Zealanders, however, that they did not receive any of their parcels from home, although they had letters saying they had been sent. They [were stolen by the Italians, whs were past-masters at petty thieving, and had even taken everything possible from the wounded, including boots, .watches, and pens. I When Italy signed an Armistice CapItain Uph.vn, with others, was moved by the Germans. He attempted to escape while crossing the Po River, but could only get a few hundred vards I away, sinse he °nuld find no cover. The • men who recaptured him later were I reprimanded for not having shot him. I Many more attempts to escape were 'made from railway trucks. Some were isuccessful, but Captain Upham, un- | fortunately, was in a woden truck, in which a good-sized hole had been made, but which was spotted by the Germans. As a result all the occuI pants were removed to a steel truck. Their destination was Lamsdorf, .where they received a warm welcome from other New Zealanders, who were I very generous in providing the newcomers with what food they could provide. ________