VC Investiture
- Thread starter Bill Smy
- Start date
to Private Beharry, VC This troop has got to have balls of solid brass.
A
aesop081
Guest
tomahawk6 said:
Nope.......i bet he doesn't have his french profile ;D
I read the citation...........good job troop
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 110
So is he getting one VC or a VC with a bar because on the MoD website it says:
I may be wrong but can't the VC only be awarded for a single act, and not a compilation of several acts of bravery? None the less, kudos to Pte Beharry.
- Reaction score
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- Points
- 210
I believe he is receiving the VC only, and not a VC with a bar.
The citation for Graham Thomson Lyall would indicate that the VC can be awarded for several acts of bravery:-
"On September 27th, 1918, while leading his platoon against Bourlon Wood..........On October 1st, in the neighbourhood of Blecourt, when in command of a weak company..........."
In all likelihood there are other instances of awards being made for mulitiple acts of bravery in the same operation.
The citation for Graham Thomson Lyall would indicate that the VC can be awarded for several acts of bravery:-
"On September 27th, 1918, while leading his platoon against Bourlon Wood..........On October 1st, in the neighbourhood of Blecourt, when in command of a weak company..........."
In all likelihood there are other instances of awards being made for mulitiple acts of bravery in the same operation.
George Wallace
Army.ca Dinosaur
- Reaction score
- 97
- Points
- 560
A little clarification/history may be needed:
The VC was introduced as the premier award for gallantry, available for all ranks, to cover all actions since the outbreak of the Crimean War in 1854. It was alleged to have been created on the suggestion of Prince Albert, the Prince Consort. Between 1856 and 2000, 1354 have been awarded to UK Forces; 832 to the Army, 107 to the Navy, 31 to the RAF and 10 to the Royal Marines. SECOND BARS have been awarded three times. I have no numbers for non-UK award winners.
The Metal in the Medal is bronze and originally came from the Russian guns captured in the Crimea, but modern research has revealed that guns captured in other conflicts in places like China have also been used at various times. - p.77, The METAL YEARBOOK 2000, Edited by James Mackay, MA, DLitt , John W. Mussell and the Editorial Team of Medal News, ISBN 1 870 192 26 5
The VC was introduced as the premier award for gallantry, available for all ranks, to cover all actions since the outbreak of the Crimean War in 1854. It was alleged to have been created on the suggestion of Prince Albert, the Prince Consort. Between 1856 and 2000, 1354 have been awarded to UK Forces; 832 to the Army, 107 to the Navy, 31 to the RAF and 10 to the Royal Marines. SECOND BARS have been awarded three times. I have no numbers for non-UK award winners.
The Metal in the Medal is bronze and originally came from the Russian guns captured in the Crimea, but modern research has revealed that guns captured in other conflicts in places like China have also been used at various times. - p.77, The METAL YEARBOOK 2000, Edited by James Mackay, MA, DLitt , John W. Mussell and the Editorial Team of Medal News, ISBN 1 870 192 26 5
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 210
*Unsure* 67 awards
American 5 awards
Australian 97 awards
Belgian 1 award
Canadian 90 awards
Celonese (Incomplete) 1 award
Danish 4 awards
English (Incomplete) 614 awards
Fijian 1 award
German 2 awards
Grenada 1 award
Indian 29 awards
Irish 190 awards
Kenyan 1 award
Nepalese 11 awards
New Zealander 24 awards
Newfoundlander 1 award
Rhodesian (Incomplete) 3 awards
Scottish (Incomplete) 158 awards
Sikkimese 1 award
South African (Incomplete) 20 awards
Swedish 1 award
Swiss 1 award
Ukrainian 1 award
Welsh (Incomplete) 25 awards
West Indian (Incomplete) 2 awards
http://www.victoriacross.net/nat.asp
Just a little UFI for you all.
Prior to 2005, the most recent Victoria Crosses (VCs) were awarded for acts that took place on 28 May and 11/12 June 1982. These were awarded posthumously to Lt Col H Jones and Sgt Ian McKay (respectively) of the Parachute Regiment for their actions in the Falklands War.
The last VC awarded to a British soldier who was alive at the time of the award was to LCpl Rambahadur Limbu, 10th Gurkha Rifles, for his action in Sarawak, Borneo, on 21 November 1965 in the Indonesian confrontation.
Twelve VCs have been awarded since the Second World War (six posthumous).
1355 awards have now been made, of which 57 have been won by The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment and its forebears. These include Captain (now Lt Col) E C T Wilson of The East Surrey Regiment, who is one of the few holders still living.
There are 14 holders still alive including the most recent recipient Pte Johnson Gideon Beharry (as at March 2005).
The first VC was won on 21 June 1854 by Mate (later Rear Admiral) Charles Lucas RN in the Crimea.
Each VC has been made from the bronze from the cascabels of two Chinese cannon captured from the Russians at the siege of Sevastopol.
The last remaining cascabel is tended by 15 Regiment Royal Logistic Corps at Donnington. The cascabel is stored in special vaults and is removed only under exceptional circumstances.
The remaining cascabel weighs 358 oz.
The two cannon, minus cascabels, are outside the Officers' Mess at the Royal Artillery barracks at Woolwich.
The cascabel, a large knob at the rear of the cannon, held ropes which were used when the weapon was being man-handled.
American 5 awards
Australian 97 awards
Belgian 1 award
Canadian 90 awards
Celonese (Incomplete) 1 award
Danish 4 awards
English (Incomplete) 614 awards
Fijian 1 award
German 2 awards
Grenada 1 award
Indian 29 awards
Irish 190 awards
Kenyan 1 award
Nepalese 11 awards
New Zealander 24 awards
Newfoundlander 1 award
Rhodesian (Incomplete) 3 awards
Scottish (Incomplete) 158 awards
Sikkimese 1 award
South African (Incomplete) 20 awards
Swedish 1 award
Swiss 1 award
Ukrainian 1 award
Welsh (Incomplete) 25 awards
West Indian (Incomplete) 2 awards
http://www.victoriacross.net/nat.asp
Just a little UFI for you all.
Prior to 2005, the most recent Victoria Crosses (VCs) were awarded for acts that took place on 28 May and 11/12 June 1982. These were awarded posthumously to Lt Col H Jones and Sgt Ian McKay (respectively) of the Parachute Regiment for their actions in the Falklands War.
The last VC awarded to a British soldier who was alive at the time of the award was to LCpl Rambahadur Limbu, 10th Gurkha Rifles, for his action in Sarawak, Borneo, on 21 November 1965 in the Indonesian confrontation.
Twelve VCs have been awarded since the Second World War (six posthumous).
1355 awards have now been made, of which 57 have been won by The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment and its forebears. These include Captain (now Lt Col) E C T Wilson of The East Surrey Regiment, who is one of the few holders still living.
There are 14 holders still alive including the most recent recipient Pte Johnson Gideon Beharry (as at March 2005).
The first VC was won on 21 June 1854 by Mate (later Rear Admiral) Charles Lucas RN in the Crimea.
Each VC has been made from the bronze from the cascabels of two Chinese cannon captured from the Russians at the siege of Sevastopol.
The last remaining cascabel is tended by 15 Regiment Royal Logistic Corps at Donnington. The cascabel is stored in special vaults and is removed only under exceptional circumstances.
The remaining cascabel weighs 358 oz.
The two cannon, minus cascabels, are outside the Officers' Mess at the Royal Artillery barracks at Woolwich.
The cascabel, a large knob at the rear of the cannon, held ropes which were used when the weapon was being man-handled.
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 210
VCs can be awarded for a series of actions. The famous pilot Group Captain Leonard Cheshire DSO** DFC was awarded the VC for sustained courage and leadership over four tours of operations with Bomber Command from 1940 to 1944, not for a single act. Capt. Charles Upham, who won his first VC on Crete in 1941, was awarded the Bar for two separate actions in 1942, at Minqar Qaiem (sp) and Ruweisat Ridge.
- Reaction score
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- Points
- 210
We were staying at the UJ Club in London and got to meet Johnson Beharrey, as he was staying here as well, prior to his meeting the Queen. He is a very humble unassuming person. Everyone was impressed with his demeanor.
Cheers from the UK, we are leaving tomorrow.
Cheers from the UK, we are leaving tomorrow.
Gunner
Army.ca Veteran
- Reaction score
- 11
- Points
- 430
Queen honours a modest, but living, testament to courage
By Alan Hamilton
The Times of London
Private Beharry first on list of decorated soldiers
EVEN the Queen, a veteran of two dozen investitures a year, had to admit to a rare moment yesterday.
As she pinned the Victoria Cross on the breast of Private Johnson Beharry of the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment, she told him: "I don't get the chance to do this very often; you're very special."
At a ceremony at Buckingham Palace, Private Beharry, 25, was first on the list of 113 recipients of honours to receive his decoration for exceptional acts of valour in Iraq. It was rightly so; the VC outranks all other recognition for bravery on the field of battle.
He even took precedence over General Sir Mike Jackson, who was receiving an upgrade to his Order of the Bath.
The simple soldier's dull green khaki uniform stood in sharp contrast to the complex blue, red and gold finery of the Chief of the General Staff.
It is nearly 40 years since the Queen was able to invest in person a living recipient of the most prized of medals, instituted by Queen Victoria in 1857 after the Crimean War.. The last occasion was at the Palace in 1966, when she pinned the honour on the breast of Lance Corporal Rambahadur Limbu of the Gurkhas for an act of bravery in Borneo.
Yesterday's was only the sixth of her reign. Britain's last two VCs, Colonel "H" Jones and Sergeant Ian Mackay of the Falklands campaign, died in the winning and their decorations were given to their widows. Keith Payne, who won the medal during the Vietnam war, was an Australian who had to be content with investiture by his country's Governor General.
On the stroke of 11am yesterday, Private Beharry stepped forward while the Band of the Scots Guards played from the balcony. The Queen stood centre-stage flanked, as always, by two Gurkha officers and five scarlet-clad members of the Yeomen of the Guard, the world's oldest and most ornately costumed bodyguard, dating from Henry VII's victory at Bosworth in 1485.
Lord Luce, the Lord Chamberlain, unusually read Private Beharry's citation in full. It took some minutes. Private Beharry stepped forward and stood before the Queen, as she leant forward and pinned the medal to his tunic. There was no kneeling, no salute, no embracing. They had half a minute of conversation, the Queen smiling brightly, looking intensely animated and, according to the recipient afterwards, asking how he was recovering from his injuries.
Looking on were Private Beharry's wife, Lynthia, and his Uncle Raymond and Aunt Irene, who are long-term residents of Britain.
The soldier's parents were unable to travel from their home in Grenada because, according to family sources, his mother is unwell. After 30 seconds Private Begarry's encounter with his monarch was over with a warm handshake. The soldier took one step back, bowed briefly from the neck and exited right, to be interviewed backstage by reporters and rejoin his family in the body of the hall to watch seven of his regimental comrades, several of whom owe their lives to him, receive two DSOs, one Conspicuous Gallantry Cross and five Military Crosses.
He may have been the star of the day, but the Queen is assiduous in treating all her investiture guests fairly; whether winning the VC, being recognised for services to education in Durham, charitable causes in Preston - all get equal treatment and the same length of personal chat.
Afterwards in the courtyard Private Beharry showed off his plain bronze medal with pride, grinned readily, answered questions patiently but was diffident about his achievement in rescuing comrades in conditions of great danger when he himself was injured. "I didn't do it for a medal, and I didn't do it by myself. If I hadn't done what I did, I would not have been able to live with myself today," he said.
In the self-deprecating way of soldiers, Lieutenant Richard Deane, of the Royal Irish Regiment, Private Beharry's platoon commander, who owes his life to the soldier, said: "The great thing about Johnson is his terrible sense of humour. It's so bad he kept up the platoon's morale all the time."
General Jackson said: "He is still recovering, and still has to face an army medical board. We would be delighted if he were able to stay in the Army. The utter selflessness of saving the other members of his team says everything about him. He is a wonderful embodiment of the fighting spirit of the British Army, and he would make a great recruiter."
Had it not been for Private Beharry the star attraction at yesterday's investiture would have been Ellen MacArthur, receiving her insignia as a Dame of the Order of the British Empire for her solo circumnavigations of the globe.
The two posed for pictures together, two distinctly different achievers but with the supremely uncommon as their common factor.
PRIDE OF THE REGIMENT
· Private Johnson Beharry and his Warrior armoured car colleagues from The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment became the most decorated armoured vehicle crew in British Army history by winning five gallantry awards between them: the Victoria Cross, three Military Crosses and a Mention in Despatches · The 1st Battalion, The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment, which also won the most gallantry awards for operations in Iraq last year, had to fight off more than a dozen ambushes during its six-month tour · The total tally of medals and awards for the regiment was 30: one VC, two Conspicuous Gallantry Crosses, two DSOs, seven Military Crosses, 15 Mentions in Despatches, one Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service, and two MBEs · The last VC winner to receive his medal from the Queen was Lance Corporal (later Captain) Rambahadur Limbu of the 10th Princess Mary's Own Gurkha Rifles. In the war in Borneo in 1965, he rescued wounded colleagues under enemy fire, picking up one comrade and dashing to safety under a hail of bullets
By Alan Hamilton
The Times of London
Private Beharry first on list of decorated soldiers
EVEN the Queen, a veteran of two dozen investitures a year, had to admit to a rare moment yesterday.
As she pinned the Victoria Cross on the breast of Private Johnson Beharry of the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment, she told him: "I don't get the chance to do this very often; you're very special."
At a ceremony at Buckingham Palace, Private Beharry, 25, was first on the list of 113 recipients of honours to receive his decoration for exceptional acts of valour in Iraq. It was rightly so; the VC outranks all other recognition for bravery on the field of battle.
He even took precedence over General Sir Mike Jackson, who was receiving an upgrade to his Order of the Bath.
The simple soldier's dull green khaki uniform stood in sharp contrast to the complex blue, red and gold finery of the Chief of the General Staff.
It is nearly 40 years since the Queen was able to invest in person a living recipient of the most prized of medals, instituted by Queen Victoria in 1857 after the Crimean War.. The last occasion was at the Palace in 1966, when she pinned the honour on the breast of Lance Corporal Rambahadur Limbu of the Gurkhas for an act of bravery in Borneo.
Yesterday's was only the sixth of her reign. Britain's last two VCs, Colonel "H" Jones and Sergeant Ian Mackay of the Falklands campaign, died in the winning and their decorations were given to their widows. Keith Payne, who won the medal during the Vietnam war, was an Australian who had to be content with investiture by his country's Governor General.
On the stroke of 11am yesterday, Private Beharry stepped forward while the Band of the Scots Guards played from the balcony. The Queen stood centre-stage flanked, as always, by two Gurkha officers and five scarlet-clad members of the Yeomen of the Guard, the world's oldest and most ornately costumed bodyguard, dating from Henry VII's victory at Bosworth in 1485.
Lord Luce, the Lord Chamberlain, unusually read Private Beharry's citation in full. It took some minutes. Private Beharry stepped forward and stood before the Queen, as she leant forward and pinned the medal to his tunic. There was no kneeling, no salute, no embracing. They had half a minute of conversation, the Queen smiling brightly, looking intensely animated and, according to the recipient afterwards, asking how he was recovering from his injuries.
Looking on were Private Beharry's wife, Lynthia, and his Uncle Raymond and Aunt Irene, who are long-term residents of Britain.
The soldier's parents were unable to travel from their home in Grenada because, according to family sources, his mother is unwell. After 30 seconds Private Begarry's encounter with his monarch was over with a warm handshake. The soldier took one step back, bowed briefly from the neck and exited right, to be interviewed backstage by reporters and rejoin his family in the body of the hall to watch seven of his regimental comrades, several of whom owe their lives to him, receive two DSOs, one Conspicuous Gallantry Cross and five Military Crosses.
He may have been the star of the day, but the Queen is assiduous in treating all her investiture guests fairly; whether winning the VC, being recognised for services to education in Durham, charitable causes in Preston - all get equal treatment and the same length of personal chat.
Afterwards in the courtyard Private Beharry showed off his plain bronze medal with pride, grinned readily, answered questions patiently but was diffident about his achievement in rescuing comrades in conditions of great danger when he himself was injured. "I didn't do it for a medal, and I didn't do it by myself. If I hadn't done what I did, I would not have been able to live with myself today," he said.
In the self-deprecating way of soldiers, Lieutenant Richard Deane, of the Royal Irish Regiment, Private Beharry's platoon commander, who owes his life to the soldier, said: "The great thing about Johnson is his terrible sense of humour. It's so bad he kept up the platoon's morale all the time."
General Jackson said: "He is still recovering, and still has to face an army medical board. We would be delighted if he were able to stay in the Army. The utter selflessness of saving the other members of his team says everything about him. He is a wonderful embodiment of the fighting spirit of the British Army, and he would make a great recruiter."
Had it not been for Private Beharry the star attraction at yesterday's investiture would have been Ellen MacArthur, receiving her insignia as a Dame of the Order of the British Empire for her solo circumnavigations of the globe.
The two posed for pictures together, two distinctly different achievers but with the supremely uncommon as their common factor.
PRIDE OF THE REGIMENT
· Private Johnson Beharry and his Warrior armoured car colleagues from The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment became the most decorated armoured vehicle crew in British Army history by winning five gallantry awards between them: the Victoria Cross, three Military Crosses and a Mention in Despatches · The 1st Battalion, The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment, which also won the most gallantry awards for operations in Iraq last year, had to fight off more than a dozen ambushes during its six-month tour · The total tally of medals and awards for the regiment was 30: one VC, two Conspicuous Gallantry Crosses, two DSOs, seven Military Crosses, 15 Mentions in Despatches, one Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service, and two MBEs · The last VC winner to receive his medal from the Queen was Lance Corporal (later Captain) Rambahadur Limbu of the 10th Princess Mary's Own Gurkha Rifles. In the war in Borneo in 1965, he rescued wounded colleagues under enemy fire, picking up one comrade and dashing to safety under a hail of bullets
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