Why the Most Decorated Soldier in Commonwealth History Went Back to Farming

Описание: Two Victoria Crosses. Both earned in combat. Only soldier in history to do it.

May 1941, Crete: A New Zealand soldier fights for ten straight days against German paratroopers, kills at least twenty-two enemies, destroys a tank with grenades, gets wounded three times, refuses evacuation, and earns the Victoria Cross. One year later, Egypt: The same soldier attacks German positions while wounded, leads his company with a bullet in his arm, gets captured, spends three years attempting escape nine times from POW camps, gets sent to Colditz Castle because he won't stop trying to break out, and earns a second Victoria Cross—making him the only person ever to receive it twice for combat actions.

After the war, he goes back to farming, refuses interviews, avoids publicity for fifty years, and when asked about his achievements says he was just doing his job. This is Charles Upham, the most decorated combat soldier in Commonwealth history who didn't want anyone to know about it.

⏱️ CHAPTERS:
00:00 - Two VCs, Only Soldier in History
01:22 - Charles Upham: Canterbury Farmer
03:40 - New Zealand Military Forces 1939
05:55 - Greece Campaign April 1941
08:20 - Crete: The Ten Days of Hell
11:45 - May 20-30, 1941: Continuous Combat
15:10 - First Victoria Cross: Crete
17:25 - El Alamein July 1942: Second VC
20:40 - Captured: Three Years POW
23:15 - Nine Escape Attempts
25:30 - Colditz Castle: The Unbreakable
27:20 - Back to Farming: The Humble Legend
28:32 - What Will You Accomplish?

🎖️ THE FACTS:
• Born: September 21, 1908, Christchurch, New Zealand
• Unit: 20th Battalion, 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force
• Crete: May 20-30, 1941, ten days continuous combat, 22+ kills, wounded 3x
• First VC: December 1941 for Crete actions
• El Alamein: July 15, 1942, led company while wounded
• Second VC: September 1945 for El Alamein
• Unique: ONLY soldier to earn VC twice in combat (4 others earned 2nd for non-combat)
• POW: July 1942 - April 1945
• Escape Attempts: 9 documented from various camps
• Colditz: 1944-1945, sent for persistent escapes
• Death: November 22, 1994, age 86

💭 THE DOUBLE VICTORIA CROSS:
Only 3 people ever received Victoria Cross twice (VC and Bar):
Captain Noel Chavasse (Medical Officer, WWI)
Captain Arthur Martin-Leake (Medical Officer, Boer War/WWI)
Captain Charles Upham (Combat Infantry Officer, WWII - ONLY combat soldier)
Charles Upham is the ONLY person in 168 years to earn it twice for direct combat. This makes him unique in military history—no one before or since has matched this.

🏝️ CRETE - TEN DAYS:
May 20, 1941: Germany launches massive airborne invasion of Crete. Charles and 20th Battalion defend Maleme airfield. For ten days Charles fights continuously: leading counterattacks, destroying German positions, rescuing wounded, getting wounded three times himself, refusing evacuation. Kills 22+ Germans, destroys tank with grenades, fights while wounded for days. His VC citation is one of the longest ever written.

⚔️ EL ALAMEIN:
July 15, 1942: Charles leads company attacking German positions. Shot in arm early but refuses treatment, continues leading for hours, captures multiple positions, collapses from blood loss. Germans capture him. Second VC awarded for leading while severely wounded.

🔓 NINE ESCAPES:
As POW 1942-1945, Charles attempts escape nine times. Every attempt fails but costs Germans resources. So problematic that Germans send him to Colditz Castle—special camp for prisoners who won't stop escaping. There he meets Douglas Bader (our previous video). Charles continues planning escapes until liberation April 1945.

🚜 THE HUMBLE FARMER:
After 1945, Charles returns to New Zealand, buys farm, spends fifty years avoiding fame. Refuses interviews, declines books, doesn't attend reunions. His children barely know about his VCs. When journalists come, he sends them away. He maintains he was just doing his duty. This humility after extraordinary achievement defines him.

🎯 WHY THIS MATTERS:
Charles proved sustained excellence under impossible circumstances is achievable. Ten days Crete, leading wounded at El Alamein, nine POW escapes—consistent refusal to accept limitations. And his humility shows you can achieve extraordinary things without seeking recognition.

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📺 MORE WW2 HEROES:
• Leo Major: One Eye, Liberated City Alone
• Lachhiman Gurung: One Hand, 31 Kills
• Douglas Bader: No Legs, 22 Kills, Colditz
• John Basilone: One Marine vs 250 Japanese

#CharlesUpham #VictoriaCross #WW2 #NewZealand #Crete #Colditz #ElAlamein #WarHero #TrueStory #Legend

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Dedicated to Captain Charles Upham VC and Bar. The humble become legends. Lest we forget.