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.
at

15 comments:

  1. Anonymous28 March 2009 at 18:57

    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.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sen. C.R.O'Blene29 March 2009 at 06:49

    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...

    ReplyDelete
  3. Sen. C.R.O'Blene29 March 2009 at 06:52

    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!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Sen. C.R.O'Blene29 March 2009 at 06:53

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

    ReplyDelete
  5. Daisy30 March 2009 at 12:09

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

    ReplyDelete
  6. idle30 March 2009 at 20:35

    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.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Electro-Kevin31 March 2009 at 07:09

    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.

    ReplyDelete
  8. The Old Tarf31 March 2009 at 19:06

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

    ReplyDelete
  9. Sen. C.R.O'Blene1 April 2009 at 05:59

    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...

    ReplyDelete
  10. Sen. C.R.O'Blene1 April 2009 at 06:00

    It was the wrong thing to say Elecs.

    Agree that most VCs are never awarded.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Sen. C.R.O'Blene1 April 2009 at 06:01

    Tarfers; perhaps he got better after that!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Sen. C.R.O'Blene1 April 2009 at 06:30

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

    ReplyDelete
  13. Sen. C.R.O'Blene1 April 2009 at 06:34

    Trying an HTML link...

    Here

    ReplyDelete
  14. Sen. C.R.O'Blene1 April 2009 at 06:38

    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...

    ReplyDelete
  15. Daisy1 April 2009 at 11:47

    i'm still trying scroblene..but better

    ReplyDelete