Saturday 28 March 2009

Hero...

.

What an incredible man.

http://tinyurl.com/dh6h3m

(Above link by courtesy of Lakes)

When I was a kid, he was mentioned in places like The Eagle, and his name was synonymous with bravery.

The obit is marred by this: -

"When King George VI was conferring Upham's second VC he asked Maj-Gen Sir Howard Kippenberger, his commanding officer: "Does he deserve it?"

"In my respectful opinion, Sir," replied Kippenberger, "Upham won this VC several times over."

I'd have hung one on him after a stupid question like that.

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

Great story Scrobs - and what a modest chap with it.

If you want to link to pages with long URLs, you may find the article here of interest or try www.tinyurl.com as an alternative.

Sen. C.R.O'Blene said...

Morning Lakes!

That's very helpful, many thanks indeed!

http://tinyurl.com/dh6h3m

Somehow I just get 'understanders blcok' on this subject - I hope the above works now!

So I'm logging out to see if it works...'Bye' - (waves)...

If I don't get back by lunchtime, send out a search party...

Sen. C.R.O'Blene said...

It worked Lakes!

It bloody worked Old Chap!!!

Many, many thanks!

Have an OBE, and be at 'The Bells' by noon for a huge G and T on the Turrets!

Sen. C.R.O'Blene said...

Now for looking at how to do an HTML link...

Daisy said...

i thought it was "off with his head"...and i agree!

idle said...

I agree that, by the time the King is ready to pin the medal (or a bar to the medal) on the heroic individual, questions such as "does he deserve it" sound a bit trite.

We have never buggered around with gallantry medals in this country. You can bet that the great majority are more than earned. We leave it to others to daub the chests of their soldiers with glue and then throw confetti at them.

Electro-Kevin said...

The King was only enquiring about standards, I'm sure.

In fact I bet there are many many unawarded VCs out there. The only difference is in the reporting of it.

The Old Tarf said...

Interesting never knew that tidbit. It would be just like King George to say something like that.

Sen. C.R.O'Blene said...

I thought your comment would be about right Iders - thanks!

I don't really like seeing puffed out chests in Whitehall, unless they've earned them like the Military.

Idi Amin used to have enough to go round his ample frame several times...

Sen. C.R.O'Blene said...

It was the wrong thing to say Elecs.

Agree that most VCs are never awarded.

Sen. C.R.O'Blene said...

Tarfers; perhaps he got better after that!

Sen. C.R.O'Blene said...

Thanks Daisers...BTW, You keeping OK now?

Sen. C.R.O'Blene said...

Trying an HTML link...

Here

Sen. C.R.O'Blene said...

Now that wasn't too difficult was it Mr O'Blene!

That nice Mr Lakes started a whole new way of doing things didn't he!

Time for your bath, and a few more tablets...

Daisy said...

i'm still trying scroblene..but better