Sun, July 25, 2004

By PETER WORTHINGTON

Exactly 150 years ago, in 1854, the Victoria Cross was authorized for conspicuous bravery in the Crimean War (1853-56). Then, on June 26, 1857, the first 62 medals were awarded by Queen Victoria at a ceremony in London's Hyde Park.

Thus was born the world's most prestigious and egalitarian valour decoration that progressively has been more and more difficult to win. In a century and a half, only 1,394 VCs have been awarded -- some 94 to Canadians (16 in WW II, most of the rest in WW I). The last VC awarded was in 1982 during the Falklands war (unless some Brit gets it for action in Iraq). The story of the VC is told in a new book by Max Arthur, Symbol of Courage -- a definitive history, documenting every VC winner since 1854.

For today's generation the VC seems exotic and remote. Yet every one is a unique story of physical and moral courage. As of this April, only 15 VC winners were still alive, one of them Smokey Smith of the Seaforth Highlanders, the only surviving Canadian VC winner. Since 1854, three men have won the VC twice -- two of them medical officers for selfless courage in rescuing wounded under fire: Arthur Martin-Leake in the Boer War and WW I, and British Olympic sprinter (1908) Noel Chavasse in WW I, who died of wounds the second time.

The only "fighting" soldier to have the VC and Bar was New Zealander Charles Upham in WW II: Crete (1941) and North Africa (1942). And therein lies the most astonishing story of courage under fire. Incredible, to me, is that a movie has not been made about Upham, who was a sheep farmer in New Zealand, ever reluctant to think he'd done anything special.

Here's his story

Briefly, here is the story of his two VCs.

As a 2nd Lieut. in New Zealand's Canterbury Regiment, Upham commanded a platoon in the defence of Crete. On May 21, 1941, unsupported by any other arms, he led his platoon 3,000 yards against fortified German positions. When pinned down by machinegun fire, he advanced and took out the position with grenades and his pistol. When another section was under fire, Upham crawled to the German machinegun nest and took it out with grenades. Then he crawled through enemy fire to another machinegun post, and destroyed it. When ordered to withdraw, Upham carried out wounded while under fire. Another company became isolated, so Upham went through enemy territory to guide it out, killing two Germans on the way.

The following day he was wounded by shrapnel in his left shoulder, but refused to be evacuated. A bullet also hit his foot. Again, when his platoon was under fire, Upham crawled forward with his platoon and routed the Germans, killing 40. When ordered to retire, he sent the platoon back with a sergeant and personally went to warn other troops they were being cut off. He was fired upon, played dead, then bracing his rifle against a tree with his unwounded arm, shot two Germans. Although exhausted he went to the top of a ridge with a Bren gun and two riflemen, and shot 22 Germans, causing the enemy to flee in panic. Throughout the nine-day engagement he was wracked with dysentery, as well as wounded. He was 32.

A year later, he was a captain commanding a company in North Africa, attacking a feature called El Ruweisat Ridge. Wounded twice, he refused to be evacuated, and with grenades, ambushed and destroyed a truckload of German soldiers.

One-man assault force

When communications broke down, he went forward alone with a Sandau gun, fought several enemy machinegun posts, and brought back the required information. In a following attack he knocked out four machinegun posts and several tanks. Then he swung to his left flank and attacked and destroyed a German tank and several guns. He was a one-man assault force.

Upham was shot through the elbow, but kept going and beat off a determined counter-attack. Treated at an aid post, he refused to be evacuated and stayed with his men. He was wounded again. He and six from his company were the only survivors when they were overrun and captured. Viewed by the Germans as dangerous and relentless in efforts to escape, Upham spent the rest of the war in the notorious Colditz Castle.

After the war, the citizens of Canterbury raised $10,000 to buy Upham a farm -- which he refused, turning the money over for scholarships for the children of returned veterans. When King George VI asked Maj.Gen. Sir Howard Kippenberger if he really deserved a bar to the VC, Kippenberger replied: "In my respectful opinion, sir, Upham has won the VC several times over."

If that isn't fodder for an inspiring movie of courage and initiative, nothing is. Charles Upham died in 1994. He was 84.