Upham's Bar DTO (id:#58765)

Sherry Enterprises (Schwerpunkt # 6: Victoria Cross ID: SP63)   [next]   [previous]

Near Ruweisat Ridge, Egypt 1942-07-15 (13 others)

Overview:

To preempt an enemy attack on his 9th Australian Division, General Auchinleck committed the 2nd New Zealand Division to an attack on Ruwiesat Ridge. As dawn broke, Manson's 20th Battalion was approaching the ridge when, quite suddenly, it was attacked by extremely heavy fire from the open left. Manson ordered Captain Maxwell's company to make straight for Point 63, then dashed over to Captain Charles Upham and directed him to attack the enemy that was firing. Upham at once moved his company up to a low ridge in that direction. There, Upham looked down into a depression at a distance of 400 yards where a large number of Italian infantry, German guns and machine-guns were firing at the other companies attacking the ridge. Most would have considered a frontal attack over open ground, by an infantry company without artillery support, to be lunacy. However, the intrepid Upham gave no thought to the danger. He stood and cried out "Come on, C Company, come on!" Confident in his leadership, they followed him without hesitation. Following Upham they swept down the hill, charging into the enemy. They were met by a tremendous fusillade, but nothing could stop the New Zealanders. Upham could be heard above the battle exhorting his men to action.

Defender: Italian / German (19th Infantry Regiment, Brescia Infantry Division and 33rd Recon Battalion, 15th Panzer Division)  

Errata (source)