APRIL
PAENGA-WHAWHA 2019
Upham miniatures presented to RSA by Carl McRae
A unique gift is how RSA President, Colin Hemingway-Ruston, described a set of replica miniature Victoria Cross medals, as presented to the Eastbourne Memorial RSA on ANZAC Day. “It’s very special,” he says. “It is a one off. We are the only RSA in New Zealand to have been bestowed with such an incredible honour.” An emotional family event last year propelled an Eastbourne local into action, the result of which will ensure that generations to follow will have an opportunity to learn of the feats of our greatest ever war hero, Charles Upham. At the time, the local man, who wants to remain anonymous, was with his brother in the Eastbourne Sports & Services Club. His sibling - these days a Cardiff resident - was back home in New Zealand for a visit. It was 6pm and as is traditional, RSA member, Les Bergman, rang the bell and recited from the Robert Binyon poem, For the Fallen. The elder brother watched as his younger sibling’s eyes filled with tears and he became quite overwhelmed with emotion. In the United Kingdom, For the Fallen is observed most notably on Remembrance Sunday, to commemorate the contribution of British and Commonwealth military and civilian servicemen and women, in the two World Wars and later conflicts. In New Zealand, verse four of the famous poem is still recited every evening at 6pm in RSAs throughout the country, as well as on ANZAC Day. Seeing the reaction of his younger brother to the traditional 6 o’clock reciting and bell ringing, got the elder brother thinking. After some consideration, and owing to
a long-term family connection, he was able to arrange for a framed display of miniature versions of the famous New Zealand soldier's medals to be made, which would in turn be presented to the local RSA. Christchurch-born Charles Hazlitt Upham earned the Victoria Cross twice during the Second World War; in Crete in May 1941, and at Ruweisat Ridge, Egypt, in July 1942. He is one of only three people to receive the VC twice, the only one to receive two VCs during the Second World War, and the only combat soldier to receive the award twice. As a result, Charlie Upham is often described as the most highly decorated Commonwealth soldier of that war, as the VC is the Commonwealth’s highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy. Colin Hemingway-Rushton, who served with the British Army during the Suez Crisis in 1956, says that Upham obviously had a sense of humour to go with his supreme gallantry. “When asked what his favourite weapon was,” says Colin,”he replied; ‘a bag of grenades’. When asked why he never wore a tin helmet in battle, he said he could never find one big enough.” The new exhibit, which contains information about the two star attractions, and the highly decorated soldier's official portrait as sketched by renowned Kiwi war artist, Peter McIntyre, now hangs in pride of place, on permanent loan, in the ESSC/RSA, a fitting ANZAC addition to the local wartime memorabilia. The family who arranged it say that they are delighted to share their donation for current and future Eastbournites or visitors to look at and further educate themselves about the exploits of Charlie Upham.
Above: Charles Upham, and below, The Victoria Cross.
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them. - Verse Four of For the Fallen by Robert Binyon