Tom Scott speaks to the RSA about his new book

Renowned cartoonist, columnist, playwright, scriptwriter, and author Tom Scott left his role at Dominion Post in 2019 to pursue a life-long goal of writing a book about Charles Upham, VC & Bar. After reading ‘Mark of the Lion’, the only authorised biography of Upham while a teenager, Tom Scott wanted to explore what made Upham ‘tick’ and shed light on his complex personality. The resulting book, “Searching for Charlie: In Pursuit of the Real Charles Upham VC & Bar” details his younger years, his influences, and his motivations to join the frontlines of the Second World War. Tom also revisits the locations of the conflicts that Upham was involved in through Europe and North Africa, including his incarceration as a POW in Colditz Castle.

Tom Scott dropped into the RSA National Office this week to chat with us about the new book, his motivations for writing and giving us some deeper insight into the man who is regarded by many as perhaps the greatest Allied soldier of WWII. Here is the extended interview with Tom.