James Upton

Rescuing wounded men, he worked close to an enemy’s parapet.

James Upton was born in Lincoln on 3 May 1888. His mother was Hannah Upton and his father James Whitbread, an iron foundry worker. After attending St Peter at Gowts School, he worked at a wagon works before joining the army at Derby in July 1906.

He served with the Sherwood Foresters in Ireland and India, becoming a regimental boxing champion and a skilled shot. His battalion returned to Britain in 1914 and reached France in November. He subsequently took part in the fighting at Neuve Chapelle.

On 9 May 1915, near Rouges Bancs, Upton repeatedly went out to recover wounded soldiers under heavy rifle and artillery fire. Some casualties lay close to the enemy's parapet. He continued carrying them towards safety although a shell killed one of the men while he was being brought in.

When not moving casualties, Upton dressed and bandaged serious wounds in front of his own line. He remained exposed throughout this work rather than waiting for darkness or a lull in the firing. The Victoria Cross recognised the courage and persistence with which he continued helping the wounded.

King George V presented the cross in July 1915. Upton married Mary Jane Chambers that month, and they had three sons. He remained in France until February 1918 and was demobilised in March 1919.

During the Second World War he served in the Middlesex Home Guard, receiving captain's rank in 1941 and becoming a major in 1942. He died at Edgware on 10 August 1949 and was cremated at Golders Green. His Victoria Cross entered the regimental collection; in 2024 the museum acquired his separated First World War campaign medals to reunite the group.

Official Victoria Cross citation For most conspicuous bravery near Rouges Bancs on 9th May 1915. During the whole of this day Corporal Upton displayed the greatest courage in rescuing the wounded whilst exposed to very heavy rifle and artillery fire, going close to the enemy's parapet regardless of his own personal safety. One wounded man was killed by a shell whilst this Non-commissioned Officer was carrying him. When Corporal Upton was not actually carrying in the wounded he was engaged in bandaging and dressing the serious cases in front of our parapet, exposed to the enemy's fire.