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A temporary farewell


NZDavid

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They breed them tough in Christchurch. Reading the papers and watching the carnage I was reminded of Charles Upham. Christchurch born and bred, he won the Victoria Cross - twice!

 

These men and women will get through.

 

And when you read about blokes like this, is it any wonder the whole world has trouble beating them at Rugby?

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Charles Hazlitt Upham fought with the NZ Division in Greece in March 1941, then in Crete in May. His remarkable bravery during the bitter fighting on Crete earned him a Victoria Cross, awarded in October 1941. His second VC was earned on July 15 1942, when the New Zealanders were concluding a desperate defence of the Ruweisat ridge in the 1st Battle of Alamein. During some ferocious fighting he was shot in the elbow, and his arm was broken. The New Zealanders were surrounded and outnumbered, but Upham carried on directing fire until he was wounded in the legs and could no longer walk. Taken prisoner, he proved such a difficult customer that in 1944 he was confined in Colditz Castle, where he remained for the rest of the war.

Back in New Zealand, Upham resisted invitations to take up politics. In appreciation of his heroism the sum of £10,000 was raised by the people of Christchurch to buy him a farm. He appreciated the tribute, but declined the money, which was used to endow the Charles Upham Scholarship Fund to send sons of ex-servicemen to university.

In 1946, Upham bought a farm at Rafa Downs, some 100 miles north of Christchurch beneath the Kaikoura Mountains, where he had worked before the war.

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David & Michael,

 

We hope for you and your families all the best. Stay safe as Christchurch and your embattled fellow residents get your feet under you. Our hearts go out to you and to all in NZ who have suffered as a result of this disaster.

 

Godspeed in your journey of recovery.

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Thank you all once more. The nation marked two minutes silence today, one week after the earthquake. There is still a long long way to go before real recovery can begin. The city center and some suburbs will have to be totally rebuilt. We had a little water but it has stopped again so we are still having to fetch it from a nearby school.

 

Many people have asked how they can help. Here's one way: Make sure your own home, no matter where you live, is equipped with an emergency kit -- torch, radio, water bottles, solar shower, non-perishable food -- and be prepared in case a natural disaster strikes at any time!

 

Here are some pictures: Photos: Before and after the quake | Stuff.co.nz

 

and: Picture of the day - nsibai's posterous

 

I also have some pictures from around our neighborhood which I shall post later on, as time permits.

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Kia ora (literally) David. Been away from the land of the long white cloud for 12 years now and saddens me everytime I see the news reports on tv. Its so shocking to think this has happened in CC. I have always thought of windy welly as the danger spot for this type of quake damage (heaven forbid, that it never ever happens).

 

Have fond memories of CC, and lochinvars! Its a beautiful city and will be again I'm sure

 

Keep safe and well bro

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NZ David, you people in Christchurch have all my sympathy.

 

We have been able to follow the situation with full reports also on the Norwegian TV.

The world is unfair. For you in Christchurch, the accidents never seem to end.

The city looks like a war zone.

 

I was a United Nations soldier in southern Lebanon just after the Civil War.

My platoon spent a whole year in the ruins of buildings. I know a bit about ruins. Not to speak of Beirut, it was a horrible place at that time.

But despite serious setbacks, however, Beirut has managed to rise from the ashes.

Once the entire infrastructure, water supply, sewers, electricity, is destroyed, the task of reconstruction seems to be infinite.

And it will cost blood, tears, and "billions".

But I'm sure you will be able to get through this.

 

Best Regards!

 

PS

Heard on the radio just now that the number of dead is rising. The whole thing is a terrible tragedy, very sad.

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