A stirring tale of bravery and heroism, as Johnson Gideon Beharry is awarded the first Victoria Cross since 1982: Private Johnson Gideon Beharry - Victoria Cross. Read the whole thing; the details are amazing. (Hat tip: Silent Running.)

Pte Beharry receives the Victoria Cross for two separate acts of outstanding gallantry of the highest order whilst based in Al Amarah, Maysan Province, Iraq, in 2004.

In the first incident on 1 May 2004, Pte Beharry was driving the Platoon Commander’s Warrior armoured vehicle that had been called to the assistance of a foot patrol caught in a series of ambushes. The Warrior vehicle was hit by multiple rocket propelled grenades, causing damage and resulting in the loss of radio communications. The platoon commander, the vehicle’s gunner and a number of other soldiers in the vehicle were injured. Pte Beharry showed initiative and great courage driving through the ambush, taking his own crew and leading five other Warriors to safety. He then demonstrated outstanding bravery by extracting his wounded colleagues from the vehicle, all the time exposed to further enemy fire. He is cited on this occasion for “valour of the highest order”.

Whilst back on duty on 11 June 2004, Pte Beharry was again driving the lead Warrior vehicle of his platoon through Al Amarah when this vehicle was ambushed. A rocket propelled grenade hit the vehicle and Pte Beharry received serious head injuries. Other rockets hit the vehicle incapacitating his commander and injuring several of the crew. Despite his very serious injuries, from which he is still recovering, Pte Beharry showed great strength of character, taking control of his vehicle and driving it out of the ambush area before losing consciousness.

Private Johnson Beharry, aged 25, was born in Grenada on 27 July 1979. He came to the UK on 6 August 1999 and enlisted in the Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment (PWRR) in August 2001. After completing his training at the Infantry Training Centre, Catterick, he joined the first Battalion of the PWRR in March 2002. Before joining the Army he worked in the construction industry.

An account at the Guardian has this priceless line from Beharry:

He was asked what was going through his mind at the time. “An RPG”, Pte Beharry promptly replied.