some of you may have seen the news of todays award of the Victoria cross to a soldier for service in iraq. it may be current events to an extent but its also an example of history in the making,

The full citation for Private Johnson Beharry's award of a Victoria Cross reads:

"Private Beharry carried out two individual acts of great heroism by which he saved the lives of his comrades. Both were in direct face of the enemy, under intense fire, at great personal risk to himself (one leading to him sustaining very serious injuries). His valour is worthy of the highest recognition.


In the early hours of the 1st May 2004 Beharry's company was ordered to replenish an isolated Coalition Forces outpost located in the centre of the troubled city of Al Amarah. He was the driver of a platoon commander's Warrior armoured fighting vehicle. His platoon was the company's reserve force and was placed on immediate notice to move.

As the main elements of his company were moving into the city to carry out the replenishment, they were re-tasked to fight through a series of enemy ambushes in order to extract a foot patrol that had become pinned down under sustained small arms and heavy machine gun fire and improvised explosive device and rocket-propelled grenade attack.

Beharry's platoon was tasked over the radio to come to the assistance of the remainder of the company, who were attempting to extract the isolated foot patrol. As his platoon passed a roundabout, en route to the pinned-down patrol, they became aware that the road to the front was empty of all civilians and traffic - an indicator of a potential ambush ahead.

The platoon commander ordered the vehicle to halt, so that he could assess the situation. The vehicle was then immediately hit by multiple rocket-propelled grenades. Eyewitnesses report that the vehicle was engulfed in a number of violent explosions, which physically rocked the 30-tonne Warrior.

As a result of this ferocious initial volley of fire, both the platoon commander and the vehicle's gunner were incapacitated by concussion and other wounds, and a number of the soldiers in the rear of the vehicle were also wounded. Due to damage sustained in the blast to the vehicle's radio systems, Beharry had no means of communication with either his turret crew or any of the other Warrior vehicles deployed around him.

He did not know if his commander or crewmen were still alive, or how serious their injuries may be. In this confusing and dangerous situation, on his own initiative, he closed his driver's hatch and moved forward through the ambush position to try to establish some form of communications, halting just short of a barricade placed across the road.

The vehicle was hit again by sustained rocket-propelled grenade attack from insurgent fighters in the alleyways and on rooftops around his vehicle. Further damage to the Warrior from these explosions caused it to catch fire and fill rapidly with thick, noxious smoke.

Beharry opened up his armoured hatch cover to clear his view and orientate himself to the situation. He still had no radio communications and was now acting on his own initiative, as the lead vehicle of a six Warrior convoy in an enemy-controlled area of the

city at night.

He assessed that his best course of action to save the lives of his crew was to push through, out of the ambush. He drove his Warrior directly through the barricade, not knowing if there were mines or improvised explosive devices placed there to destroy his vehicle. By doing this he was able to lead the remaining five Warriors behind him towards safety.

As the smoke in his driver's tunnel cleared, he was just able to make out the shape of another rocket- propelled grenade in flight heading directly towards him. He pulled the heavy armoured hatch down with one hand, whilst still controlling his vehicle with the other.

However, the overpressure from the explosion of the rocket wrenched the hatch out of his grip, and the flames and force of the blast passed directly over him, down the driver's tunnel, further wounding the semi-conscious gunner in the turret.

The impact of this rocket destroyed Beharry's armoured periscope, so he was forced to drive the vehicle through the remainder of the ambushed route, some 1500 metres long, with his hatch opened up and his head exposed to enemy fire, all the time with no communications with any other vehicle.

During this long surge through the ambushes the vehicle was again struck by rocket-propelled grenades and small arms fire. While his head remained out of the hatch, to enable him to see the route ahead, he was directly exposed to much of this fire, and was himself hit by a 7.62mm bullet, which penetrated his helmet and remained lodged on its inner surface.

Despite this harrowing weight of incoming fire Beharry continued to push through the extended ambush, still leading his platoon until he broke clean. He then visually identified another Warrior from his company and followed it through the streets of Al Amarah to the outside of the Cimic House outpost, which was receiving small arms fire from the surrounding area.

Once he had brought his vehicle to a halt outside, without thought for his own personal safety, he climbed onto the turret of the still-burning vehicle and, seemingly oblivious to the incoming enemy small arms fire, manhandled his wounded platoon commander out of the turret, off the vehicle and to the safety of a nearby Warrior.

He then returned once again to his vehicle and again mounted the exposed turret to lift out the vehicle's gunner and move him to a position of safety. Exposing himself yet again to enemy fire he returned to the rear of the burning vehicle to lead the disorientated and shocked dismounts and casualties to safety.

Remounting his burning vehicle for the third time, he drove it through a complex chicane and into the security of the defended perimeter of the outpost, thus denying it to the enemy. Only at this stage did Beharry pull the fire extinguisher handles, immobilising the engine of the vehicle, dismounted and then moved himself into the relative safety of the back of another Warrior.

Once inside Beharry collapsed from the sheer physical and mental exhaustion of his efforts and was subsequently himself evacuated. Having returned to duty following medical treatment, on the 11th June 2004 Beharry's Warrior was part of a quick reaction force tasked to attempt to cut off a mortar team that had attacked a Coalition Force base in Al Amarah.

As the lead vehicle of the platoon he was moving rapidly through the dark city streets towards the suspected firing point, when his vehicle was ambushed by the enemy from a series of rooftop positions. During this initial heavy weight of enemy fire, a rocket-propelled grenade detonated on the vehicle's frontal armour, just six inches from Beharry's head, resulting in a serious head injury.

Other rockets struck the turret and sides of the vehicle, incapacitating his commander and injuring several of the crew. With the blood from his head injury obscuring his vision, Beharry managed to continue to control his vehicle, and forcefully reversed the Warrior out of the ambush area.

The vehicle continued to move until it struck the wall of a nearby building and came to rest. Beharry then lost consciousness as a result of his wounds. By moving the vehicle out of the enemy's chosen killing area he enabled other Warrior crews to be able to extract his crew from his vehicle, with a greatly reduced risk from incoming fire.

Despite receiving a serious head injury, which later saw him being listed as very seriously injured and in a coma for some time, his level-headed actions in the face of heavy and accurate enemy fire at short range again almost certainly saved the lives of his crew and provided the conditions for their safe evacuation to medical treatment.

Beharry displayed repeated extreme gallantry and unquestioned valour, despite intense direct attacks, personal injury and damage to his vehicle in the face of relentless enemy action."

without doubt a truly courageous and honourable man

regards

joe

Joe, thanks for posting this - definitely a moment to mark..Jim

Pte Beharry is truely a credit to his parents and the Regiment and Force that trained him, as well as individually an extremely cool headed and courageous person.

A very well deserved VC

Amazing story! Once again those who say today's youth are spoiled and lazy are proven wrong. Pte Beharry's courage and initiative show the best in human nature and selflessness.

Thanks! Just an example of the quality of the British Troops that I have had the Honor to serve alongside!
What regiment did Pte. Beharry belong to? Is he fully recovered?

Chief

Wow, thanks for posting that Joe. A truly courageous trooper Pte. Beharry is, any further update on him? This young man is truly a credit to his Regiment and his country, I tip my hat and raise my glass to this brave young trooper!

I hope someone out there (a journalist with the skills and toold available to gather all the facts) takes all of these great stories of courage and publishes them in a book. These brave mens deeds need to be recorded and shared with everyone to show the quality of the fighing men of the coalition in the GWOT.

Chief - he was on the TV today in the UK and looks pretty darned good for a guy that was hurt that badly.
He's a member of the Princess Of Wales Royal Regiment, which (from its incorporated regiment) is now the most decorated unit in the British Army with 57 VCs. 33 decorations for gallantry have now been recently awarded to this regiment alone including 10 Military Crosses and two Conspicuous Gallantry Crosses. One of these was for a bayonet charge against Iraqi insurgents that were laying a road bomb ready for other forces using the road. If I can find the link again I'll post it.

Here's the link:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/03/18/nvc218.xml&sSheet=/news/2005/03/18/ixhome.html

Dave

I thought (in my befuddled mind) that the MC which is reportedly being awarded to a Cpl. (Cpl Mark Byles, 34, from Portsmouth, who is awarded the Military Cross, ), was for officers while the MM was for other ranks, and the DSO was second to the VC. Has this been changed?

Also, which regiments formed the PWRR?

It would appear that the MC is now one medal for all ranks since 1993. The Conspicuous Gallantry Cross is a new medal first awarded in 1993.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_and_Commonwealth_orders_and_decorations
According to their website the PWRR incorporates the following - quite a long list:
The Queens Regiment
The Royal West Kent Regiment
The Queens Royal Surrey Regiment
The Royal Sussex Regiment (my own county Regiment)
The Royal East Kent Regiment (the famous Buffs)
The Middlesex Regiment
The Royal Anglian Regiment
The 1st Btn Royal Fusiliers
The London Regiment
The Kings Regiment

Some history, going back to 1572 when Queen Elizabeth the 1st reviewed the London Trained Bands ( 16th Century reserves).

The PWRRs nickname is "The Tigers" - I reckon they've certainly earnt that!

What is the Hierarchy of awards for gallantry in action for the British? Here in the United States its
1) the Medal Of Honor
2) the Cross....Navy, Air Force, or Distingushed Service
3) Silver Star
4) Bronze Star with valor attachment

Has anyone from the US been awarded the Medal of Honor for this conflict yet?

In order:
Victoria Cross
George Cross (for non-operational gallantry and actions during peacetime - may be awarded to civilians - equal to VC)
Distinguished Service Order (since 1993 awarded for leadership & command by any rank, CGC for gallantry)
Conspicuous Gallantry Cross
Distinguished Service Cross (Royal Navy officers - since 1993 for all ranks)
Military Cross (Army officers since 1993 for all ranks )
Distinguished Flying Cross (RAFofficers, since 1993 for all ranks)
Air Force Cross ( RAF officers, since 1993 for all ranks, for actions whilst not engaged in combat)
Distinguished Conduct Medal (replaced in 1993 by the CGC)
Conspicuous Gallantry Medal (replaced in 1993 by CGC)
George Medal
Distinguished Service Medal (RN other ranks up to 1993 - now DSC)
Military Medal (Army other ranks up to 1993 -now MC)
Distinguished Flying Medal (up to 1993 RAF other ranks - now DFC)
Air Force Medal (RAF other ranks to 1993 - now AFC)

Hope this helps - full descriptions and more info can be reached using the link in my last post

Dave

We dumped all that for officers only/enlisted only crap in 1904. The Navy had the Medal of Honor only for enlisted until then. Somewhere in the teens I think we added the Crosses and the Stars to add to the awards for gallantry and to set extremely high standards for the Medal of Honor. Yours are a bit more convoluted. We also have our Distnguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, and Commendation Medals for non combat actions.