New museum display on war hero

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 14, Issue 667, 17 December 1996, Page 28 (Supplement)

New museum display on war hero

The world's only combatant VC and Bar soldier, Captain Charles Upham, is the subject of a new exhibition which recently opened at the Queen Elizabeth II Army Memorial Museum in Waiouru. 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 are medals won by Captain Upham as well as many of the weapons and equipment used by him and his comrades in battle. The exhibition also focuses on Upham' s life before and after the war, including rare and unpublished photographs of his early life. Artefacts, photographs, paintings, videos and music tell the complete story of Charles Upham in a way never seen before, said a museum spokesman. "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 museum marketing manager Mark O'Conner. Other soldiers who have been awarded the VC twice were non-combatant, medical officers. Cpt Upham received his first VC for assaults in the Battle of Crete and the second for his part in at the Minqar Quaim and Ruweisat Ridges battles. After being captured by the Germans, he was sent to Colditz Castle. During one of his escape attempts from a prison camp, he was caught amongst barbed wire, and soon faced a guard preparing to shoot him. Cpt Upham defused the situation, and saved his own life, by lighting up a cigarette. The camp commandant took a photograph of him in this position, and this picture is one that appears in the exhibition. The exhibition also covers his life before and after the war, hence the title "Citizen to Citizen".