The only fighting combatant to earn two Victoria Crosses

Wars & Conflicts · Published 16 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Charles Upham was a shy sheep farmer who became a legend of the Second World War. Despite his unassuming nature, he displayed such extraordinary bravery in Crete and El Alamein that he became the only soldier in history to be awarded the Victoria Cross twice for actions in combat.

Born in 1908 in Christchurch, New Zealand, Charles Upham was described as a quiet, 'lone ranger' who was often wrapped up in his own thoughts. A student of agriculture and land valuation, he enlisted in the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force in 1939 at the age of 30. Though he had experience in the Territorial Force as a sergeant, he initially signed on as a private, eventually rising to the rank of second lieutenant. He quickly earned the respect of his men by prioritizing their safety and comfort. Upham's first Victoria Cross was earned during the Battle of Crete in May 1941. During the attack on the airfield at Maleme, he led his platoon 3,000 yards under fire without artillery support. He repeatedly moved into extreme danger to neutralize machine gun nests, at one point crawling within 15 yards of the enemy to lob grenades.

When his company was forced to withdraw, he ran 600 yards through German lines to rescue an isolated unit. Despite being wounded by mortar shells and shrapnel, he remained on duty, even feigning death to ambush two Germans who approached him. His second Victoria Cross came in July 1942 during the First Battle of El Alamein. Once again, Upham demonstrated 'utter indifference to danger' while severely wounded. Despite his repeated honors, Upham remained modest, initially rejecting his first award as undeserved. After the war, he returned to a quiet life of farming and community service, famously declining financial assistance. He died in 1994 at the age of 86, remembered as a man of profound reliability and fierce courage.

Upham's actions are notable because he is one of only three people to receive the Victoria Cross twice, and the only one to do so as a fighting combatant (the others being doctors). His leadership was defined by a transition from a 'placid' farm manager to a tactical leader who could induce enemy panic through clever positioning and personal bravery.

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