James Tasker Upton (1917 - 1943)

Born 11 Aug 1917 in New Zealand

Ancestors

Died 20 Apr 1943 at age 25 in Tunisia, North Africa

James Upton is an Anzac who served in World War Two.

Biography

parents - Parker Tasker Upton and Margaret Josephine Upton,

Second Lieutenant James Tasker NZ23066 21st Infantry Battalion

The New Zealand 21st Infantry Battalion fought in Greece, Crete, the Western Desert and later in Italy. They played a prominent role in the Western Desert Campaign, in the Second Battle of El Alamein and in the British Eighth Army's advance to Tunisia.

The Western Desert campaign began in November 1942, with a series of landings in Algeria and Morocco. The Germans checked the Allied advance east in early December. Defeated in the battle of El Alamein, the Germans withdrew toward Tunisia along the coast through Libya, with the 21st and the British Eighth Army in pursuit. By mid April 1943, the Germans were cornered in north-eastern Tunisia and the Allies regrouped for their final offensive. The New Zealand 21st Infantry took part in the Eighth Army attack on the enemy position at Enfidaville.

from the Official History of New Zealand in the Second World War 1939–45 - 21 BATTALION by J. F. Cody - chapter 10 Tunisian Campaign [1]

In the morning of the 19th April 1943, Colonel Harding received his final orders for a set-piece attack on the enemy position at Enfidaville the next night. The New Zealanders were to attack on the right, with the 4th Indian Division on the left. They would attack in the first phase of the battle with the Maoris on their right. The 21st Battalion were ordered to skirt the craggy western slopes of Takrouna and continue over the Zaghouan road, then work their way to the right and join up with the Maoris' left flank. Accordingly, they deployed in battle order an hour before midnight on the 19th of April, the sky was cloudy and there was a waning moon. The barrage that would cover their advance was to start on a line a mile further forward, and the troops were to follow the barrage for a mile toward the Enfidaville-Zaghouan road. The ground a head of them was uneven, rising and falling sharply, studded with cactus shrubs and patches of prickly thorn. Nine Platoon, led by Second-Lieutenant Upton was held in reserve.

No. 9 Platoon, owing to their delayed start no longer covered by the barrage that had earlier forced the enemy to keep their heads down, came under fire from the lower slopes of Takrouna. After 9 platoon had advanced about 1200 yards without making contact with the Company, Second-Lieutenant Upton moved over to his right to locate C Company. 9 platoon reached the olive grove behind C Company, but found the olive trees were booby trapped, and so turned left towards the original line of advance. The next obstacle they encountered was a cactus hedge, which they followed towards Takrouna until coming to a minefield.

Sergeant Dotchin writes: I told the platoon to take cover and wait until a way had been found through the mines. I soon managed to find a lane but on returning discovered the remainder of the platoon had tried to cross on their own initiative and had become casualties. At this point I noticed that Lieut Upton was missing. [He had found a hole in the hedge and was killed while making a reconnaissance.]

Second Lieutenant James Tasker Upton just 25 years old.

The village of Enfidaville was captured that night, but strong resistance by the Germans held the Allied advance up. Attacks further north were meeting with greater success; Tunis itself was finally captured on the 7th of May. By the 11th of May, the position at Enfidaville was surrounded and German resistance in North Africa was finally overcome the following day.

Auckland Star 25th May 1943 page 1 [2]

DEATHS

UPTON - Second-Lieutenant James Tasker Upton - Killed in action overseas. Dearly loved younger son of Parker and Margaret Upton. 25, Burwood Crescent, Remuera; aged 25 years.

Burial

Enfidaville War Cemetery, Tunisia

grave VIII. B. 20 A

Most of those buried at Enfidaville War Cemetery died in the final battles to defeat the Italian & German Axis forces in North Africa from March to the beginning of May 1943.

Sources

• Official History of New Zealand in the Second World War 1939–45 - 21 BATTALION by J. F. Cody - chapter 10 — Tunisian Campaign (esp. p: 251)[3]
• Auckland War Memorial Museum Online Cenotaph [4]
• New Zealand War Graves Project [5]
• Commonwealth War Graves [6]