Rifleman Charles Tupper killed 28th June 1944

One of 9th Cameronians casualties in Operation Epsom, was 19 year old Charles David Tupper, from the village of Postling in Kent.

Charles was born on 19th September 1924, in the parish of Eythorne in Kent. He joined the Army on 25th September 1942, six days after his 18th birthday. Charles was posted to 9th Cameronians and trained with them at Keighley in Yorkshire prior to the Battalion’s departure for Normandy on 17th June 1944.

While training at Keighley, Charles wrote a letter home to his mum and dad, exchanging some news on the Battalion’s billets and recent activities and asking his parents about life at home;

Dear Mum & Dad

I was ever so pleased to get a letter from you both today. I’m glad you are both OK & getting on alright & that you have finished getting the potatoes up alright. … I suppose Dennis wasn’t staying at home was he, couldn’t very well with all his animals to feed, when did Sis go back, Sun? With Jack moving its made a change all round about it. How was the fruit up at Jacks, mum, plentiful I expect wasn’t it – down here there’s a bit more fruit than up North but nothing like it is at home, its mostly apples here. Its not bad down here, more places to go & enjoy yourself but the money goes quicker. The billets are not bad, we are in a big mill. The room I’m in there is two Coys [Companies], about 300 men but there is still plenty of room, the room in fact is about 150 feet long & 60 feet wide but its not cold as you might think, but gets hot at night.

We are having an easy time here, although Fri[day] we done a hard days work, built a hundred yard range in one day, the RSM said that this Coy was the only one in the Battalion that could do it in a day & we did it, quite pleased he was…

We go out on a ten day stunt next week & I believe we move from this place as well, so I might not be able to write for quite a time. Well I must close for now so hoping this finds you OK as it leaves me at present. I’ll say cheerio, your every loving son

xxxx Charles xxxxx

The everyday topics of conversation finished with, and slightly distracted, Charles had to disclose his big news as a postscript:

P.S.

I finished the writing before I had said all I wanted to say, you see I’m on fire duty tonight & was listening to what the Sgt was saying & not thinking went & finished the letter so I hope you don’t mind it being sort of instalments. Well Mum, Eileen & I have decided to get engaged on my next leave, I hope you don’t mind, but I know what you are going to say & that is we are quite young yet. I thought I’d tell you now & see what you think of it. Well, I must close now as I have to parade in a few minutes time for this blue pencil fire guard so I’ll say cheerio, you loving son,

Charles xxxxx

From Keighley the 9th moved in May 1944 to Hove, where they joined the tens of thousands of troops gathering in the south of England awaiting the Normandy invasion.

Charles was a member of 15 Platoon, in ‘C’ Company. During the attack on 28th June, ‘C’ Company had been heavily engaged against enemy tanks in and around Grainville-sur-Odon. Major S. Bingley, who had commanded ‘C’ Company during Operation Epsom, wrote to Charles’ mother shortly after his death:

Dear Mrs Tupper

My task is, I fear, a very painful one. Already you will know that your son has been killed in action and I know full well that anything that I can say is of little consolation.

He died as a good soldier should, bravely, during an advance which pushed the enemy back many thousands of yards. Military security will not at present allow me to say more of the operation, but if you wish to know where is buried, please write to me and I will be only too glad then to tell you. He was, mercifully, killed instantly by a mortar shell. He suffered no pain.

May I then, on behalf of his comrades and myself, offer our deepest sympathy in your loss, and hope that time will show that he died not in vain.

Yours sincerely

Sam. Bingley, Major

O.C. ‘C’ Company, 9 Cameronians

Rifleman Charles David Tupper is buried in Tilly-sur-Seulles War Cemetery. Authorities sent his family a photograph of his original, temporary grave marker.

In 1982, a member of Charles’ family visited his grave and took a photograph of the current, Commonwealth War Grave Commission grave marker.

Charles’ grave bears the inscription:

“GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS, THAT A MAN LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS”

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