BAR TO THE V.C.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 229, 27 September 1945, Page 4

BAR TO THE V.C.

A RARE AWARD CAPTAIN UPHAM, OF N.Z. THIRD TIME SUCH AN HONOUR CONFERRED London, Sept. 25. The Kng personally conferred for nearly one hour at Buckingham Palace with high-ranking New Zealand officers before he decided to award a Bar t.i the Victoria Cross to Capt. C. H. Upham—the. only one of the war and the first during his reigi ■„ Only two other Bars to the Victoria Cross have ever been awarded, both in the last war. The King carefully checked through all papers relating to Capt. Upham's exploits and asked many questions. He recalled the occasion when he decorated the New Zealander with, the Victoria Criss at a Palace investiture and expressed his personal regret when he heard that Capt. Upham had returned home, raying he was sorry he missed seeing him again. Recommendations that Capt. Upham should receive a Bar had remained “in the tray" for nearly three years, in fact since the battle of Ruweisat in 1942 when he was taken prisoner. Many details had to be checked and rechecked and some could only be given by men captured with Capt. Uphain. THE CITATION. 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, 1942. In spite of being wounded twice, once, when crossing open ground swept by enemy fir e to inspect his fox-ward sections guarding our mine-fields, and again when he completely destroyed an entire truck load of German soldiers with hand grenades, Captain Upham insisted on remaining with his men to take part in the final assault. "During the opening stages of the attack on the ridge, Upham's company formed part of the reserve battalion; but when communications with the forward troops broke down and he was instructed to send up an officer to report on the progress of the attack, 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 defended enemy locality consisting of four machine-gun posts and a number' of tanks. Without hesitation, Upham at orce 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 battle cheering on his men, ana in spite of fierce resistance of the enemy and heavy casualties on both sides the objective was captured. During the engagement Upham 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 counter-attack and consolidated the vital position which they had won under his inspiring leadership. Exhausted by pain from his wound and weak from loss of blood, 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.

“Now unable to move, he 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 of thp outstanding gallantry and magnificent leadership shown by Upham.’ ’