New museum display focuses on war hero

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 14, Issue 664, 26 November 1996, Page 7

New museum display focuses on war hero

The Army Museum in Waiouru will open an exhibition based on the life of New Zealand's most famous soldier, Captain Charles Upham, Victoria Cross and Bar on 6 December. The exhibition will remain in the Museum for about a year to enable as many people as possible to view some of New Zealand's national treasures. On display will be the medals won by Captain Upham as well as many of the weapons and equipment used by him and his comrades in battle. The exhibition will also focus on Upham' s life before and after the war, including rare and unpublished photographs of his early life. Artefacts, photographs, paintings, videos and music will tell the complete story of Charles Upham in a way never seen before, said marketing manager Mark O'Conner. "Charles Upham is unique in that he is only fighting soldier in the world ever to be awarded two Victoria Crosses. His exploits in World War Two have become legendary and the Army Museum exhibition will show not only the legend of one of our greatest heroes, but the ordinary bloke behind the legend," said Mr O'Conner. Charles Upham was an ordinary bloke

working and studying in a farming community in Canterbury before war was declared in 1939. He immediately joined the army and was sent to Egypt with the rest of the New Zealand Division. He first saw action in Greece. In the defence of Crete against German airborne invasion he performed some remarkable feats of courage which saw him awarded the Empire's highest award for gallantry, the Victoria Cross. Further fighting in the North African deserts followed and Upham fought in the battles at Minqar Qaim and RuweisatRidge. At Ruweisat Ridge he was wounded so severely that he was unable to move and was captured by the Germans. After three years of captivity Upham returned to New Zealand to discover that he had been awarded a second Victoria Cross for his actions in the desert. Upham refused the preferential treatment offered to him and bought a North Canterbury farm where he spent the remainderof his working life. His death two years ago brought tributes from around the world for this great New Zealander who will now be remembered in a special exhibition at the Army Museum in Waiouru.