Searching for Charlie: In Pursuit of the Real Charles Upham VC & Bar

by Tom Scott

Charles Upham was the most h soldier in the highly decorated soldier in the Commonwealth forces of WWII, and could arguably be called the bravest soldier of the war.

An unassuming stock worker/valuer at the beginning of the war, he stormed through Crete and the Western Dessert amazingly and confounding his comrades with his exploits.

Upham won two Victoria Crosses (the only combat soldier to ever do so) and in the opinion of his superiors deserved many more. Captured, he became an escape artist and ended his war in the famous Colditz POW camp.

Genres: History, Biography

400 pages, Hardcover

First published August 13, 2020

About the author

Scott was born in London in 1947 and emigrated to New Zealand with his family as an 18-month-old. He was raised at Rongotea in rural Manawatu and studied at Massey University, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in physiology in 1972.

Tom Scott is an award-winning journalist, cartoonist, columnist, documentary film-maker, screenwriter, and playwright.

added additional information from Wikipedia

Reviews

[Regan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Charles Upham was a pretty standard Kiwi bloke. But what he did during the war is amazing. This story is great, very well researched and is a good read. It could do without the flourishes of the author, I haven't picked up the book to read about him. Apart from that, it's worth a read.

[Umbar · Rating 3 out of 5]

My most hormonal moment of the month was crying reading this in the lunch room on Thursday but I think it was an appropriate reaction. Glad to end my 2024 reading challenge on a great New Zealander, and always good to reflect on our hard fought freedoms etc

[Daniel Headifen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read Mark of the Lion years back. Also wrote about Charles Upham for a school project as a primary schooler. So knew a bit about him. It was an easy and enjoyable read. That Upham could scare people so well was something I hadn’t picked up before. When he said he now jumped at the sound of a car horn it reminded me of a story about my grandfather who was also in the 2nd NZ div. One of his cousins told me when they were out for lunch somewhere he dived under a table when a plane flew overhead, instincts he couldn’t shut down. Also made me think about Norm Jones and his bigotry- what had watching all those men die done to him as a teenager.
If anything, the book felt a bit short.

[Alan Doak · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not sure what I wanted out of this book. I don't think that Tom Scott found Charlie Upham. He couldn't really decide what the book was about. Don't get me wrong, it's well told but could have done with some rigorous editing. And really, everytime Tom mentions his satchel he needs to tell us it's an R M Williams satchel. Why? Is this the writers equivalent of product placement? One thing I will be following up on is Norm Jones' book "Jonesy" quoted in this book.

[Joanne, drinker of tea, reader of books, servant to cats · Rating 3 out of 5]

I initially rated this book as 2 stars, but decided that at the very least, the events told in its pages deserved an extra star.

Charlie Upham certainly deserved the two VCs he was awarded.

He also deserved a well written and extraordinary biography befitting a rather extraordinary man.

Rule 1 when writing a biography: Keep yourself out of the story.

There was simply too much Scott in this book. The story of Charlie Upham was regularly interrupted by the story of Tom Scott, or a modern aside, or a very flat joke. So I was ripped out of the story, then had to settle myself back in, only to be ripped out of it again.

However, for me, the greatest annoyance was Scott's constant statements that Charlie Upham and others 'won' their VCs. The VC is earned, and it is awarded. It is not won.

[Tony · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wanted to read about a Kiwi hero of the Second World War. I had heard of Charles Upham as he was the extremely rare soldier to earn not one, but two Victoria Crosses.

When you read this story of a real unassuming hero. It just makes you so proud of the bravery, complete utter commitment and risk of life this man, and millions of others who risked everything for a belief and hope for a better future for us all. I felt so proud of Charlie and made me wonder what it would of been like for myself in those horrific situations.

He is just an example to us all, to stand up for what we believe in and commit everything for the better good.

[Rod MacLeod · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent - deeply researched from multiple sources these stories are woven together in an engaging and fascinating way. Highly recommended

[James Elliott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Essential reading about an extraordinary New Zealander, Charles Upham VC & Bar. Meticulously researched, perfectly contextualised and drizzled with just the right amount of brilliant Tom Scott one-liners.

[John Puzey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Charles Upham VC and Bar is a New Zealand hero, the only man to win two VC's. I was hoping that this book would give insight to the man, and indeed it did. However, for some reason the author tries to intertwine himself into the narrative. Indeed for the first 100 pages I wondered if the book wasn't a diary of Tom Scott and his family. But at around Page 120 we started to get into the story of 'Charlie' and his heroic exploits. The author has clearly followed Upham's path, talked to his family, friends and others who met him, and read extensively, so the book is well researched. His narrative of Charlie's journey is interspersed with descriptions of those places as they are now which does give a different perspective and does provide some relief from the horrors of war. Sadly, Scott cannot resist embellishing the story with his own experiences. His drive towards Leipzig in a hire car at night in which he couldn't find how to dip the lights, being accosted by an irate driver, suffering a nose bleed, and cleaning himself up in a motorway cafe are, I'm sure, very interesting, but relevant how exactly? I am pleased I read it. I know more about the great man (my words, certainly not Charlie's) but I feel the book could have been 150 pages shorter!

[Simon Armitage · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rated 9/10. Written by Tom Scott (NZ author, satirist, cartoonist) its a different take to the previous biography by Kenneth Sanford (see next review), being a more lighthearted approach insofar as he visits many of the sites of Uphams exploits and passes comment on the locations.
Charles Uphams story is not widely known in NZ and for those who don't know about him I can only recommend that they take the time to read this or the "Mark of the Lion". A rare individual who is one of the only soldiers to receive a double VC on the battlefield (as opposed to medics etc who also have). He saw war not as something great, but simply as something that had to be done at the time to stop the Germans (whom he hated for what they were doing) taking over Europe and beyond, and he did it well. He was a reluctant hero and would sooner rush a machine gun nest than face the media. He returned to NZ after the war and aside from events he could not avoid (usually ordered to attend by his superior officers) he disappeared from public view to spend the remainder of his life farming. An excellent read.

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author Tom Scott gets to know the real Charles Upham, the only combat soldier to win the Victoria Cross twice. Scott goes to Upham's old battlegrounds in Crete and Egypt, and visits the former POW camps in Germany and Italy, trying to find the origin of this man's ferocious bravery in battle. He travelled extensively, interviewing family, friends and fellow soldiers, visiting childhood haunts, schools, museums and libraries. The result is an essential read - his findings paint a portrait of a humble man with a deep-seated sense of fair-play and a strong moral compass - a legend whom his old enemies of the Afrika Korps described as "one of the bravest and one of the best soldiers". A gripping read.

[F. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like other reviewers have mentioned, I felt the author kept taking me out of the book by reverting to stories about himself.
However the biography is well researched and having read Mark Of The Lion: The Story Of Capt. Charles Upham, V.C. And Bar multiple times was pleased to get a more rounded view of Charles Upham.

[Daryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable & informative read. Tad less of the author wouldn't have been missed. 3.5 star rating if possible.

Intentions to follow an uncles footsteps 1939 - 45. 1st Ammunitions Comp. 2nd Expd Force. Appears I'll also be following Charlie Uphams footsteps.

*TS's book good enough to encourage reading of Mark Of The Lion

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Part biography of Charles Upham, part travel diary retracing his historical steps, Tom Scott presents an engaging story of his hero. Now my hero. Charles Upham is the perfect representation of what it means to be a New Zealand man. He should be seen as an inspiration to all New Zealand men.

[John McLeod · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very well researched book . It portrays a different light on the life of Upham. The reader travels with the path of the book and can picture the scenes If there is one small criticism it is the use of some words that I did not have a clue what meant.

[Wenzl Schollum · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full of Tom Scott's humor and so many Kiwi nuances it would be difficult for a non New Zealander to understand some passages.
An excellent read.

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Story of double Victoria Cross winner Charles Upham.
Well researched and written.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was fascinating to learn about this NZ legend. The author told Charlie's story with respect and great care.

[Ralph-Peter Hendriks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting read, about a very interesting man. What more can I say. I like the way the story was told, with personal touches...

[Marnie Miles]

I'd like to know what Charlie's daughters thought of the end result.

[Geoff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great complement to the Mark of a Lion. Some new information to fill out the picture.

[Kim Matthews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative, Charles Upham was an interesting man

[M R · Rating 5 out of 5]

a great book about a great man whom many outside of New Zealand may never had heard of.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learnt so much about a real Kiwi hero in this book and I'm forever grateful. I feel the author could have focused a bit more on Charlie's exploits and less on himself, but it gives a different spin to things I guess. I've added the Mark of the Lion to my reading list as I was left wanting more Charlie Upham - I bet that would annoy him so much!

[Dan Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

A true legend of Canterbury. I loved this book from start to finish