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A YOUNG British soldier who dragged his wounded platoon commander to safety and rescued 29 other soldiers under enemy fire in Iraq has been awarded the Victoria Cross, finally relieving Queenslander Keith Payne of his 36-year title as the most recent living recipient of the honour. Private Johnson Gideon Beharry, 25, is now one of just 14 living recipients of the award for exceptional bravery after pushing through an ambush in an armoured vehicle while the turret was on fire, in the town of al-Amarah, north of Basra, on May 1 last year. Far from being upset at losing his...

A young soldier has been awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest military honour, for bravery under fire in some of the fiercest, and largely unreported, engagements between British forces and insurgents in south-eastern Iraq. Private Johnson Beharry, 25, is the first soldier to receive the VC since the Falklands war in 1982 and the first living recipient since 1969, when two Australians were given the award for action in Vietnam. The citation, gazetted today, describes his "great heroism" in two separate encounters in the town of Amara, north of Basra, last summer. In the first, on May 1, the Warrior...

VC for soldier who led convoy through ambushes in IraqBy Michael Smith, Defence Correspondent (Filed: 18/03/2005) A British soldier who fought in Iraq is awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry, today for saving dozens of comrades during two incidents in which he was seriously wounded. Pte Johnson Beharry, 25, who emigrated from Grenada in 1999, is only the fourth black serviceman to win the award, instituted in 1865 to honour heroism in the Crimea. He was cited for his actions during battles with Iraqi insurgents in the southern town of Amarah last summer. Pte Beharry, of 1...

LONDON (Reuters) - An armored vehicle driver who twice drove out of ambushes under fire in Iraq will become the first recipient of Britain's top military honor in more than 20 years, the Ministry of Defense said on Friday. Private Johnson Beharry of the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment will be the first person to receive the Victoria Cross since 1982 and the first living recipient since 1965. He was cited for "valor of the highest order" after he drove out of an ambush of rocket-propelled grenades and extracted his wounded colleagues from the vehicle while under fire in May...

Soldier wins VC for Iraq bravery A British soldier serving in Iraq who saved 30 members of his unit from an ambush has been awarded the first Victoria Cross for more than 20 years. Pte Johnson Beharry, 25, was struck by enemy fire as he guided a convoy of Warrior fighting vehicles through the town of Al Amarah last May. A month later he saved more lives in an attack which left him in a coma. He was one of 140 soldiers honoured for tours in Iraq, Afghanistan, the former Yugoslavia and Africa. Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon said: "These honours...

reat story about a young British soldier , the last two paragraphs are odd to my American way of thinking. via Times Online Brit wins Victoria Cross in Iraq A YOUNG soldier who enlisted in the Army less than four years ago became a member of the most exclusive club in the world yesterday after being awarded the Victoria Cross for exceptional bravery in Iraq. Private Johnson Gideon Beharry, 25, is now one of just 14 living recipients of the award which he received for saving the lives of 30 comrades under remorseless attacks from grenades and machinegun fire in...

A British soldier serving in Iraq who saved 30 members of his unit from an ambush has been awarded the first Victoria Cross for more than 20 years. Private Johnson Beharry, 25, was struck by enemy fire as he guided a convoy of Warrior fighting vehicles through the town of Al Amarah last May. A month later he saved more lives in an attack which left him in a coma. Mr Beharry is one of 140 servicemen and women honoured for Iraq, Afghanistan, the former Yugoslavia and Africa. Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon said: "These honours and awards recognise the outstanding...