Cartoonist talks about book

Acclaimed writer and cartoonistTom Scott will be speaking at an event at the TeAwamutuRSAabout hisnew book Searching for Charlie tomorrow at 5.30pm.

As well as the RSA, the free event will be hosted by Paper Plus Te Awamutu, whowill assist with book sales and signing.

Tomis famous for his weekly column and cartoon onpolitics for theNewZealand Listener in the 1970s and 1980s, he haswonnumerous awards including the QantasNew Zealand Cartoonist of theYear (seven times) and Columnist of theYear and Political Columnist of the Year (three times).

Hehasmadea subsequent career writing plays and for television and film.

Tomhad long dreamed of writing a book that laid bare the truth about the British Commonwealth’s greatest soldier, Charles Upham.

In 2019 he gaveuphis regular cartoon slot for the Dominion Post to makeit happen.

Captain Charles HazlittUphamis the only combat soldier ever to win the Victoria Cross twice. His acts of bravery in WorldWarIImeanthe probably deserved six more.

The mystery ofhowa reserved, modest, slightly built farm valuer fromNewZealand, could be so ferocious and fearless in battle has intrigued and fascinatedTomever since he read about CharlesUpham as a schoolboy.

Searching for Charlie goes a long wayto solving that mystery.