September 21, 1908 - Christchurch, New Zealand - Charles Hazlitt Upham is born
January(?) 1(?), 1917 - Near Winchester, South Canterbury, New Zealand - Elementary school at Waihi School, near Winchester, South Canterbury
January(?) 1(?), 1923 - Christchurch - Enrolls at Christ's College, Christchurch
January(?) 1(?), 1927 - Canterbury, New Zealand - Attends Canterbury Agricultural College
January(?) 1(?), 1930 - Canterbury - Earns his diploma in Agriculture. During the next years he works on Canterbury sheep stations for the next six years
March 1(?), 1937 - Timaru, New Zealand - Joins the Valuation Department as assistant district valuer in Timaru
February 1(?), 1939 - Canterbury - Returns to Canterbury Agricultural College to complete a diploma in valuation and farm management
September 18, 1939 - Burnham Camp, S. of Christchurch - Enlists in the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force (2NZEF) at the age of 30, and is posted to the 20th Canterbury-Otago Battalion, part of the New Zealand 2nd Division =(START)
December 25, 1939 - Christchurch - Christmas at home
December 28, 1939 - Burnham Camp - Returns to Burnham
December 30, 1939 - Burnham Camp - The Battalion is inspected by Major-General B.C. Freyberg
January 3, 1940 - Christchurch - The battalion marches through Christchurch for an official farewell
January 5, 1940 - Burnham Camp | Lyttelton - The Battalion marches to Burnham station and goes by train to Lyttelton. Upham embarks on the "Sobieski" as a Sergeant
January 18, 1940 - Freemantle, Western Australia - The "Sobieski" reaches Freemantle, escorted by HMS Ramillies
January 30, 1940 - Colombo, Ceylon - The convoy reaches Colombo
February 5, 1940 - Gulf of Aden - HMS Ramillies leaves the NZ convoy in the Gulf of Aden
February 8, 1940 - Aden - Stop at Aden to refuel
February 12, 1940 - Port Tewfik | Maadi, Egypt - The 20th Battalion reaches Egypt. Later it travels by train to Maadi Camp, via Zagazig, Benha and Cairo
April 8, 1940 - South of Helwan - The Battalion marches 21,5 miles during an exercise
April 22, 1940 - El Saff ridge - The troops leave for the El Saff area and take defensive positions on El Saff ridge
April 26, 1940 - Maadi, Egypt - Back to Camp Maadi
July 1(?), 1940 - Mersa Matruh area, Western Desert - The battalion leaves Maadi for the Western Desert, Mersa Matruh area. Upham is persuaded to join an Officer Cadet Training Unit
July 20, 1940 - Garawla - A new camp is built at Garawla
August 1(?), 1940 - Maadi, Egypt - The battalion returns to Maadi
September 1, 1940 - Amiriya, Western Desert - The Battalion moves to Amiriya, Western Desert
September 27, 1940 - Baggush - The battalion moves to Baggush
January 13, 1941 - Helwan - The Battalion moves to Helwan
March 13, 1941 - Alexandria, Egypt - The battalion departs for Greece on board the "City of Norwich"
March 15, 1941 - Piraeus, Greece - The convoy arrives at Piraeus. Upham rejoins the battalion after passing through OCTU (as a Second-Lieutenant)
March 16, 1941 - Athens - Leave in Athens
March 17, 1941 - Larisa, Greece - The battalion moves north to take defensive position in the Aliakmon Line. Reaches Larisa
March 18, 1941 - Katerini, Greece - The Battalion arrives at Katerini. The New Zealand Division was to take up a defensive position from the sea to Ryakia
March 19, 1941 - Ryakia - Upham's company takes position at Ryakia
April 10, 1941 - Lava, W-SW of Katerini - Due to the rapid advance of the germans, the battalion moves to Lava
April 15, 1941 - Lava | Servia, Greece - The war reaches 20th battalion when german artillery and dive-bombers appear
April 18, 1941 - Larisa - New Zealand forces begin withrawing as the allied lines face the danger of german encirclement
April 19, 1941 - Molos, near Lamia, Greece - The battalion reaches Molos
April 20, 1941 - Stilis, 10 miles E of Lamia - Upham's company leaves for Stilis, to prevent an enemy advance from the East
April 21, 1941 - Stilis - Due to the capitulation of the greeks, all British forces were to withraw from Greece
April 27, 1941 - Porto Rafti, E of Athens - 20 Battalion reaches the embarkation point at Porto Rafti. They are attacked by german stukas as german motorized units enter Athens. The Battalion embarks in tank landing craft and is taken out to the cruiser "Ajax" and the destroyer "Kingston"
April 28, 1941 - Souda Bay, Crete - HMS Ajax arrives at Souda Bay, Crete
April 30, 1941 - SE of Galatas - 20 Battalion moves to positions SE of Galatas
May 3, 1941 - SE of Galatas - Officers and NCOs are addressed by General Freyberg
May 13, 1941 - Maleme, W of Galatas - The battalion moves to the west of Galatas
May 19, 1941 - Maleme - German air attack against Maleme and Souda Bay
May 20, 1941 - Maleme - German air attack against Maleme and Souda Bay. Junkers transport airplanes disgorge hundreds of parachutes over Maleme airfield
May 22, 1941 - Platanias, Crete - Victoria Cross citation: "He commanded a forward platoon in the attack on Maleme on 22nd May and fought his way forward for over 3,000 yards unsupported by any other arms and against a defence strongly organised in depth. During this operation his platoon destroyed numerous enemy posts but on three occasions sections were temporarily held up.
In the first case, under a heavy fire from a machine gun nest he advanced to close quarters with pistol and grenades, so demoralizing the occupants that his section was able to "mop up" with ease.
Another of his sections was then held up by two machine guns in a house. He went in and placed a grenade through a window, destroying the crew of one machine gun and several others, the other machine gun being silenced by the fire of his sections.
In the third case he crawled to within 15 yards of an M.G. post and killed the gunners with a grenade.
When his Company withdrew from Maleme he helped to carry a wounded man out under fire, and together with another officer rallied more men together to carry other wounded men out.
He was then sent to bring in a company which had become isolated. With a Corporal he went through enemy territory over 600 yards, killing two Germans on the way, found the company, and brought it back to the Battalion's new position. But for this action it would have been completely cut off.
During the following two days his platoon occupied an exposed position on forward slopes and was continuously under fire. Second Lieutenant Upham was blown over by one mortar shell, and painfully wounded by a piece of shrapnel behind the left shoulder, by another. He disregarded this wound and remained on duty. He also received a bullet in the foot which he later removed in Egypt."
May 25, 1941 - Galatas - Victoria Cross citation: "At Galatas on 25th May his platoon was heavily engaged and came under severe mortar and machine-gun fire. While his platoon stopped under cover of a ridge Second-Lieutenant Upham went forward, observed the enemy and brought the platoon forward when the Germans advanced. They killed over 40 with fire and grenades and forced the remainder to fall back.
When his platoon was ordered to retire he sent it back under the platoon Sergeant and he went back to warn other troops that they were being cut off. When he came out himself he was fired on by two Germans. He fell and shammed dead, then crawled into a position and having the use of only one arm rested his rifle in the fork of a tree and as the Germans came forward he killed them both. The second to fall actually hit the muzzle of the rifle as he fell."
May 30, 1941 - Sphakiá, Crete - Victoria Cross citation: "On 30th May at Sphakia his platoon was ordered to deal with a party of the enemy which had advanced down a ravine to near Force Headquarters. Though in an exhausted condition he climbed the steep hill to the west of the ravine, placed his men in positions on the slope overlooking the ravine and himself went to the top with a Bren Gun and two riflemen. By clever tactics he induced the enemy party to expose itself and then at a range of 500 yards shot 22 and caused the remainder to disperse in panic.
During the whole of the operations he suffered from dysentery and was able to eat very little, in addition to being wounded and bruised. He showed superb coolness, great skill and dash and complete disregard of danger. His conduct and leadership inspired his whole platoon to fight magnificently throughout, and in fact was an inspiration to the Battalion."
June 1, 1941 - Alexandria, Egypt - The battalion moves to the beach and board HMS Phoebe and the destroyer "Jackal", reaching Alexandria on the same day
June 2, 1941 - Helwan - Upham rejoins his battalion at Helwan
June 6, 1941 - Helwan - Parade for an inspection by the Prime Minister of New Zealand
August 17, 1941 - Geneifa | Al Kibrit (Kabrit), N. of Suez - The battalion moves to the Suez Canal zone by train
August 25, 1941 - Al Kibrit (Kabrit), N. of Suez - Assault landing exercises
September 12, 1941 - 30 miles E. of Mersa Matruh, western Desert - The battalion moves to the Western Desert
October 14, 1941 - Baggush - Divisional exercises. A divisional order-of-the-day notifies the award of the Victoria Cross to Lieutenant Upham
November 11, 1941 - Baggush - The battalion moves west
November 19, 1941 - South of the Libyan Sheferzen | Trigh el Abd - The battalion reaches the South of the Libyan Sheferzen and close to the Trigh el Abd
November 21, 1941 - Moves north to cut the road between Bardia and Tobruk
November 24, 1941 - Gambut - 20 battalion links up with 4 brigade at Gambut
November 25, 1941 - Sidi Rezegh - Advance to Sidi Rezegh
November 26, 1941 - Belhamed - 20 Battalion receives anti-tank guns during the night
November 28, 1941 - Between Belhamed and Sidi Rezegh - The Battalion attacks the germans between Belhamed and Sidi Rezegh
December 1, 1941 - Belhamed - Orders to hold Belhamed. The Battalion is attacked and defeated by the german 15th Panzer Division. Between KIA, wounded and POWs, the battalion looses 548 men
December 5, 1941 - Baggush - The scattered elements of the Battalion move back to Baggush
December 15, 1941 - Baggush - Upham takes command of C company
January 25(?), 1941 - Al Kibrit (Kabrit), N. of Suez - During the last week of January, 20 Battalion moved to Kabrit for training
February 23, 1942 - Al Kibrit (Kabrit), N. of Suez(?) - The Battalion receives a warning of a possible german invasion in the Middle East, and prepares for a move to Syria
March 1, 1942 - Suez Canal - The Battalion begins moving to Syria, crossing the Suez Canal at midnight
March 2, 1942 - Haifa, Palestine - The Battalion reaches Haifa by train
March 3, 1942 - Damascus, Syria - Arrival in Damascus
March 4, 1942 - El Aine, 20 miles from Baalbek, Syria - The Battalion reaches its destination in Syria
May 21, 1942 - East of Homs - A week of maneuvers begin in the Forqloss area east of Homs
June 16, 1942 - Rayak - The New Zealand Division receives orders to move to the Western Desert with the utmost speed
June 19, 1942 - Ismailia - 20 Battalion reaches Ismailia by train
June 20, 1942 - Amiriya, Western Desert - 20 Battalion reaches the Western Desert, via Cairo
June 21, 1942 - Mersa Matruh area, Western Desert - 20 Battalion proceeds to Mersa Matruh
June 25, 1942 - Minqâr Qaim - Moves to Minqar Qaim
June 27, 1942 - Minqâr Qaim - German forces attack the division's positions at Minqâr Qaim
June 29, 1942 - Deir el Munassib area - 20 Battalion moves 14 miles to the SE to the Deir el Munassib area
July 7, 1942 - Mungar Wahla, El Ruweisat Ridge, Western Egypt - 20 Battalion digs in on high ground on the eastern end of Mungar Wahla
July 14, 1942 - El Ruweisat Ridge, Western Egypt - 2nd Victoria Cross citation: "Captain C. H. Upham, V.C., was commanding a Company of New Zealand troops in the Western Desert during the operations which culminated in the attack on El Ruweisat Ridge on the night of 14th–15th July, 1942. In spite of being twice wounded, once when crossing open ground swept by enemy fire to inspect his forward 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 Captain 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.
Captain Upham, without hesitation, at once led his Company in a determined attack on the two nearest strongpoints on the left flank of the sector. His voice could be heard above the din of battle cheering on his men and, in spite of the fierce resistance of the enemy and the heavy casualties on both sides, the objective was captured.
Captain Upham, during the engagement, 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 Captain Upham was then removed to the 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 was again severely wounded and being now unable to move 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 the outstanding gallantry and magnificent leadership shown by Captain Upham."
July 16(?), 1942 - Somewhere in Libya - Upham is taken by the germans as a prisoner of war
January(?) 1(?), 1943 - Campo PG47, near Modena, Italy - Prisoner of War at Campo PG 47, near Modena, Italy, reaching there via Bari (as most of the aussie and new zealander prisoners there)
September 1(?), 1943 - Weinsberg, Germany(?) - After a failed escape attempt while recuperating in an italian hospital, he is transfered to Germany
October 14, 1944 - Colditz, near Leipzig - Upham is recaptured after a failed escape attempt and is sent to Oflag IV-C (Colditz), a prisoner camp for habitual escapers
April 16, 1945 - Colditz - Colditz is liberated by the americans. Upham tries to rejoin the fight but he is sent to Britain instead
May 11, 1945 - Buckingham Palace, London - King George VI invests Upham with his first Victoria Cross
June 20, 1945 - New Milton, Hampshire - Upham marries Molly McTamney
September 1(?), 1945 - New Zealand - Returns to New Zealand in Early September
May 31, 1946 - London, England - In London for the Victory celebrations
June 12, 1946 - London - Attend a dinner for recipients of the Victoria Cross at the Dorchester Hotel in London
June 28, 1956 - London - In London to attend the VC Centenary celebrations
July 14, 1968 - London - Arrives in London
July 18, 1968 - London - Meeting of the VC and GC Association at Chelsea Barracks in London
November 22, 1994 - Christchurch, New Zealand - Charles Upham dies, aged 86 =(END)
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