Victoria Cross Poem by David Page- aka Harry Riley

Victoria Cross

Victoria Cross is a hero's cross
And winning one is rare
But did you ever hear of the Kiwi man
Whose valour won him a pair?

Wounded, near death, in World War Two
With the enemy all around
He never gave way, as he kept them at bay
And bravely stood his ground

In the desert heat came his second great feat
At the battle of El Alamein
With a ridge to be freed
He acted with speed
And they shot him again and again!

A tank barred his way as it joined in the fray
But he stopped it dead in the sand
Charles Hazzlit Upham was still up and at 'em
That hell-fire man from New Zealand!
***

POET'S NOTES ABOUT THE POEM
I was inspired to write this poem by a friend who related the story of a New Zealand soldier of the second world war who, despite being wounded many times in battle and fierce hand to hand fighting, won two Victoria Cross Medals for valour of the highest order!
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