VC Winners - Your Countries Recipients

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Charles Hazlitt Upham VC & Bar



Charles Hazlitt Upham (centre), seen here with members of his platoon in North Africa, is probably New Zealand's most famous soldier. Born in Christchurch in 1908, Charles joined the 2nd NZ Expeditionary Force soon after war broke out in September 1939. He fought with the NZ Division in Greece in March 1941, then in Crete in May. His remarkable bravery during the bitter fighting on Crete earned him a Victoria Cross, awarded in October 1941.
In June and July 1942 Upham again showed tremendous courage leading his men in ferocious actions at Minqar Qaim and Ruweisat Ridge in the North African desert. In the latter battle he was wounded and captured by the Germans. After trying to escape from captivity several times, in 1944 he was sent to the notorious German prison at Colditz. After he was liberated in 1945, the military authorities decided that his actions at Minqar Qaim and Ruweisat Ridge merited the addition of a bar to his VC. As a result, he became one of only three people ever to win the Victoria Cross twice.
After the war Upham returned to farming life in Canterbury, where in died in 1994. Modest and selfless, but extremely tough and single-minded, Upham came to symbolise the steely determination and professionalism of the New Zealand Division in the Second World War.

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Arthur Martin-Leake

w
Martin-Leake, VC and bar.

Lieutenant-Colonel Arthur Martin-Leake, VC and Bar (4 April 1874 – June 22, 1953) was an English double recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. Martin-Leake was the first of only three men to be awarded the VC twice (the others are N.G. Chavasse and C.H. Upham).

Boer War VC

He was 27 years old, and a surgeon captain in the South African Constabulary then, Royal Army Medical Corps, British Army, attached to the 5th Field Ambulance during the South African War (Boer War) when he won his first VC.
On 8 February 1902, at Vlakfontein, South Africa, Martin-Leake went out into the firing line to dress a wounded man under heavy enemy fire only 100 yards off. He then attended a badly wounded officer and while doing so was shot. He gave up only when thoroughly exhausted and then refused water until other wounded men had been served.

World War I VC

He won his second VC during the period 29 October to 8 November 1914 near Zonnebeke, Belgium, when, the award citation says, Martin-Leake showed most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty in rescuing, while exposed to constant fire, a large number of the wounded who were lying close to the enemy's trenches.
He later achieved the rank of lieutenant-colonel. His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Army Medical Services Museum, Aldershot, England.
Martin-Leake is buried in St John's Church, High Cross, Hertfordshire.

[EmersonBigguns]

Apparently there have been 5 American or American born persons to earn a Victoria Cross fighting with Commonwealth forces. 4 during WWI and 1 during the "Bombimng of Shimonoseki" in 1864. In addition, the American Unknown Soldier from WWI was also awarded a Victoria Cross on November 11, 1921 during his internement. Reciprocally the British Unknown Soldier was also awarded the American Medal of Honor. Here are the American winners of the Victoria Cross:

Captain Bellenden Seymour Hutchison served in the Canadian Army Medical Corps of the CEF. On 2 September 1918 in France, Captain Hutcheson went through the Queant Drocourt Support Line with his battalion, remaining on the field until every wounded man had been attended to. He dressed the wounds of a seriously hurt officer under terrific machine-gun and shell fire, and with the help of prisoners and his own men succeeded in evacuating the officer to safety. Immediately afterwards he rushed forward in full view of the enemy to attend a wounded sergeant and having placed him in a shell-hole, dressed his wounds.

Lance Corporal William Henry Metcalf served in the Manitoba Regiment of the CEF. On 2 September 1918 at Arras, France, when the right flank of the battalion was held up, Lance-Corporal Metcalf rushed forward under intense machine-gun fire to a passing tank and with his signal flag walked in front of the tank directing it along the trench in a perfect hail of bullets and bombs. The machine-gun strong-point was overcome, very heavy casualties were inflicted and a critical situation was relieved. Later, although wounded, Corporal Metcalf continued to advance until ordered to get into a shell-hole and have his wounds dressed.

Sergeant George Harry Mullin, Princess Patricia Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI), Eastern Ontario Regiments of the CEF. On 30 October 1917 at Passchendaele, Belgium, Sergeant Mullin single-handed captured a pill-box which had withstood heavy bombardment and was causing heavy casualties and holding up the attack. He rushed the snipers' post in front, destroyed the garrison with bombs, shot two gunners and then compelled the remaining 10 men to surrender. All the time rapid fire was directed on him and his clothes were riddled with bullets, but he never faltered in his purpose and he not only helped to save the situation but indirectly saved many lives.

Sergeant Raphael Louis Zengel, Saskatchewan Regiment of the CEF. On 9 August 1918 east of Warvillers, France, Sergeant Zengel was leading his platoon forward to the attack when he realised that an enemy machine-gun was firing into the advancing line. He rushed forward ahead of the platoon to the gun emplacement, killed the officer and operator of the gun and dispersed the crew. Later in the day he was rendered temporarily unconscious by an enemy shell but on recovering continued to direct harassing fire on the enemy. His utter disregard for personal safety and the confidence he inspired in all ranks greatly assisted in the successful outcome of the attack.

Ordinary Seaman William Henry Harrison Seeley served in the Royal Navy (there was no Royal Canadian Navy at the time) during the Shimonoseki Expedition in Japan. On 6 September 1864 at Shimonoseki, Japan, during the capture of the enemy's stockade, Ordinary Seaman Seeley of HMS Euryalus distinguished himself by carrying out a daring reconnaissance to ascertain the enemy's position, and then, although wounded, continuing to take part in the final assault on the battery. Seeley was the first American to be awarded a Victoria Cross.

Source: American VC Recipients

[CROONAERT]

The that the world seems to forget about...

Cpl.B.J.Budd, 3/Parachute Regiment...

[Slipdigit]

Found this ineteresting.

Victoria Cross - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

It is a tradition within the Australian Army for soldiers' recreational clubs on military bases to be named after a particular Victoria Cross winner, usually one with whom the unit is historically associated. Permission for such naming rights is usually obtained not only from the relevant command hierarchy within the military itself, but also from the family of the VC winner. Once dedicated, the club and its participants typically take great pride in the deeds of the VC winner with whom they are associated, and often family members will be invited to attend certain functions held by the club as a mark of thanks and respect.
Examples of such clubs can be found right across Australia, but more prominent ones include the Edmondson VC Club at ARTC Kapooka (named after John Hurst Edmondson), the Dunstan VC Club at Puckapunyal military base in Victoria, Australia (named after William Dunstan) and the Arthur C. Hall VC Club at Victoria Barracks in Sydney (named after Arthur Charles Hall).

[dbf]

Originally Posted by von Poop

As the current theme seems to be Irish VCs...
I was just looking at this poster from a rather different age:
(I somehow can't see Grenada putting up similar posters with Johnson Beharry as the central figure .)


List of Irish Victoria Cross recipients - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Thanks VP saw that and had to add this from NY Times:




dbf

[Gotthard Heinrici]

Well done on those Posts Adam and DB, and indeed that poster is indicative of the political situation in Ireland at the time. There was a huge push in WW1 to get the Irish to enlist indeed Irish Politicians were of the opinion that a favourable turnout for the British Army could precipitate the onset of "Home Rule", which of course was frowned upon by both Unionists under Edward Carson. And of course the Nationalist leaders such as Padraig Pearse viewed Home Rule as not good enough and that only full independence would suffice.

My point is that a lot of southern Irishmen went into the British Army against a backdrop of conflicting emotions and indeed a lot of them were unfairly pilloried upon their return because they took the King's shilling. The travesty of this was that the very people who waved them off at the start to defend "Little Belgium" were the very ones who insulted them upon their return at the end. The rising of 1916 ensured that this would happen. Not a very proud moment in Irish History (the treatment of the Irish Veterans).

[dbf]

Thanks GH,

Couldn't agree with you more about the treatment of those who volunteered [- there was no conscription in Ireland -] to serve with the British Army only to be ridiculed later. And on the flipside, those loyal to the Union, thought that by proving their affiliation by enlisting, they could ensure that Ireland would not be partitioned.

Ironies abound as usual Gerard.

Let us not forget that RoI was neutral and that many from there signed on for WW2 fighting in essence for their 'old foe'. My father, from Belfast fought alongside his best mate from Dublin. During the Belfast Blitz De Valera sent fire engines and crews to help tackle the blazes and rescue the trapped. For once it was recognised that all of us were Irish, whether from the North or the South.

dbf

[Gotthard Heinrici]

Originally Posted by dbf

Thanks GH,

Couldn't agree with you more about the treatment of those who volunteered [- there was no conscription in Ireland -] to serve with the British Army only to be ridiculed later. And on the flipside, those loyal to the Union, thought that by proving their affiliation by enlisting, they could ensure that Ireland would not be partitioned.

Ironies abound as usual Gerard.

Let us not forget that RoI was neutral and that many from there signed on for WW2 fighting in essence for their 'old foe'. My father, from Belfast fought alongside his best mate from Dublin. During the Belfast Blitz De Valera sent fire engines and crews to help tackle the blazes and rescue the trapped. For once it was recognised that all of us were Irish, whether from the North or the South.

dbf

That was indeed one of the rare moments when it rivalries were put aside and the greater good was recognised.

[macrusk]

Here is a link to the 16 Victoria Crosses awarded to Canadians in World War II.

http://www.acc-vac.gc.ca/remembers/s...ada2/victoricr

For each there is a link that takes you to their individual stories.