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Victoria Cross awarded
Posted: Sat 12 Mar, 2005 3:39 pm
by craigm
Saw this on another forum....
Britain to issue first Victoria Cross in 23 years for Iraq soldier
LONDON (AFP) - A British soldier who braved gunfire to rescue dozens of comrades in southern Iraq (news - web sites) is to receive the first Victoria Cross, the military's top award for bravery. It's the first such medal issued in 23 years, a report said.
Private Johnston Barry, an armoured vehicle driver from the Princess of Wales Royal Regiment, has been approved for the honour by the Ministry of Defence, the Daily Mail newspaper said.
The 24-year-old, who was born in Grenada in the West Indies, was part of a British convoy attacked in Al-Amarah, southern Iraq, in May last year, the paper said.
He smashed his burning vehicle through a barricade to force an escape route and dragged free his unconscious platoon commander before returning under heavy gunfire a number of other times to rescue more wounded.
A few days later, Barry saved more British troops during another ambush, suffering head injuries himself and being flown back home.
If Barry's receipt of the Victoria Cross, or VC, is formally approved it will be the first such bravery award since 1982, when two British soldiers were honoured for their actions in the Falklands War against Argentina.
Both the Falklands medals were awarded posthumously. Historians have estimated that such is the level of bravery necessary to receive a VC that the chances of survival are only around one in 10.
Awarded 1,354 times since 1856 for outstanding gallantry in the face of enemy action, every VC is made by London jewellers Hancocks from the bronze of two cannons captured from the Russian army during the Crimean War.
Craig
Posted: Sat 12 Mar, 2005 4:26 pm
by beardo
It was in the paper last year
Posted: Sat 12 Mar, 2005 7:12 pm
by Tab
They have been talking about this for ages, they should either give it to him our shut up. Odds on he will wind up with the MC, as they seem very reluctant to give this to just a common soldier
Posted: Fri 18 Mar, 2005 11:28 pm
by Bliartheliar
Congratulations to the lad.
Posted: Sat 19 Mar, 2005 3:14 am
by Chappy
Let this be a wake up to all the people who want all immigrants banned from coming into this country. I bet the Sun and the Mirror will be praising him yet on the next page telling you all immigrants are nasty, drug dealling, shop lifting, job stealing monsters.
Well done to him. He should be immensely proud of his actions and have a wry smile that not many people would do the same.
Posted: Sat 19 Mar, 2005 4:53 am
by got1
[quote="Jeberdiah Klink"]Let this be a wake up to all the people who want all immigrants banned from coming into this country. I bet the Sun and the Mirror will be praising him yet on the next page telling you all immigrants are nasty, drug dealling, shop lifting, job stealing monsters.
Well done to him. He should be immensely proud of his actions and have a wry smile that not many people would do the same.[/quote]
Is the above whats called playing the "race card"?
Why not just give the lad your congratulations on a job above and beyond.
I just hope the powers at be will look after him now, he's going to need it.
Posted: Sat 19 Mar, 2005 1:07 pm
by Guest
im not trying to down his actions as they were remarkable but the army might have only givin him the vc for some good publicity as there giving it to him in the same week that the deepcut report came out critizing the army for a number of things but correct me if im wrong
Posted: Sat 19 Mar, 2005 1:43 pm
by Chappy
got1 wrote:Is the above whats called playing the "race card"?
Why not just give the lad your congratulations on a job above and beyond.
I just hope the powers at be will look after him now, he's going to need it.
Jeberdiah Klink wrote:Well done to him. He should be immensely proud of his actions and have a wry smile that not many people would do the same.
Wassat? Cheese on toast?
nuc1earwaste wrote:im not trying to down his actions as they were remarkable but the army might have only givin him the vc for some good publicity as there giving it to him in the same week that the deepcut report came out critizing the army for a number of things but correct me if im wrong
The kid makes a good point.
Posted: Sat 19 Mar, 2005 5:22 pm
by Guest
TJD wrote:nuc1earwaste wrote:im not trying to down his actions as they were remarkable but the army might have only givin him the vc for some good publicity as there giving it to him in the same week that the deepcut report came out critizing the army for a number of things but correct me if im wrong
Again another load of complete rubbish. The decision will have nothing to do with Deepcut or his skin colour, but more to do with his outstanding bravery - give credit where it is due. I only wish I was as brave as this young chap!!!
What? i didnt say anything about his skin colour and put 2 and 2 together
Posted: Sat 19 Mar, 2005 6:42 pm
by Tab
Good on yer mate, you have landed your self amongst the immortals.
Posted: Sat 19 Mar, 2005 7:49 pm
by got1
Why don't you lot just give credit where credit is due.
He wasn't a "rupert" trying to further his career, he was a tom that that looked after his mate's. If what is said is true, give him his due.
I had the honour of buying the last recipient that lived to get the VC a pint
[Bill Speakman VC Korea] I'm not sure, but there may have been one since. He was an ordinary bloke who liked his beer, but was p*ssed of becaused he was being shown of as a recruiting poster.
I also trained Ian McKay, VC Falklands. God Bless Him .
PISSED OFF.
Posted: Sat 19 Mar, 2005 8:02 pm
by Guest
were not downing him but debating our personal opinions behind the armys reasons to giving him a vc as it seems a bit suspiscious
Posted: Sat 19 Mar, 2005 8:44 pm
by Bliartheliar
He saved dozens of his fellow soldiers in TWO seperate incidents, being wounded seriously in the process. He deserves the VC outright.
The debate whether to give him a VC lasted for about a year, so to link his award with the Deepcut report is a load of crap.
Pvt Johnson Beharry is a name that few of us will forget.