Just before his 31st birthday in September 1939, Charles Upham volunteered as a private in the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force. He had been in the Territorials but refused to join at any higher rank. He was soon singled out for his natural leadership qualities and made temporary lance corporal, but refused to attend the Officer Cadet Training Unit since he feared that such training would delay his departure for Europe. He determined to learn everything he could and excelled in the use of the bayonet, machine-gun, and hand-grenade. He once complained at the futility of having to lay a lawn at camp headquarters which made him miss bayonet practice. By the end of training his clear leadership abilities had been recognised and he had been made sergeant. Upham sailed with the first New Zealand troops for Egypt in December 1939.’

After a bit of a hiatus due to Nick and his partner having a baby over the summer, we are back with a new episode written by Murray Dahm.