Victoria Cross awarded to L/Cpl Josh Leakey, Parachute Rgt

[Dr Jekyll]

Only the 16th VC since WW2 apparently.

The previous 15...

Korea: 4.
Malayan emergency: 1.
Vietnam: 4.
Falklands: 2
Iraq: 1
Afghanistan: 3.

[ReallyReallyGood]

Fantastic story.

Interesting family - having read about him on Wikipedia and followed it to a distant cousin...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigel_Leakey

"... the enemy made a sudden counterattack with both light and medium tanks. In the face of withering fire, Sergeant Leakey leaped on top of one of the tanks, wrenched open the turret and shot all the crew except the driver, whom he forced to drive the tank to cover. Along with three others, he tried to repeat this with another tank, but just as he opened the turret, he was killed."

Insane bravery.

[Cheese Mechanic]

Dr Jekyll said:

Only the 16th VC since WW2 apparently.

The previous 15...

Korea: 4.
Malayan emergency: 1.
Vietnam: 4.
Falklands: 2
Iraq: 1
Afghanistan: 3.

The sad thing is, is that the majority of them are no longer with us. Bill Speakman (Korea) is still about. Rambahadur Limbu , one of the 3 VC's I have actually met is still with us. Keith Payne as well (Vietnam , all Aussie army)Johnson Beharry, Iraq , and now our friend Leakey.

Risky business gaining a VC , although J P Carne's award (Korea) was not posthumous.

[Asterix]

Had a read up on the living VC holders. Fair play to our Aussie and Kiwi cousins.

[selym]

nyxster said:

Someone should start one of those gofundme things so we can treat him and his mates to a damn good piss up.

I'm in. He patrolled so the likes of me could work safely inside the wire.

[Kermit power]

Cheese Mechanic said:

Langweilig said:

I hope that the Yanks also reward his gallantry. At least, the Silver Star for Valour.

I beleive thats the highest award they could give him, should they choose to do so. Their highest award, The Medal of Honour , is restricted to either members of US forces , or US citizens only, I cannot recall which. Either way members of other armed forces cannot we awarded the MOH.

I shall hear more about this , my son in laws cousin is i n the same unit as the brave Mr Leakey. He'll be well made up as even being in the same mob.

I think you'll find that the highest award the Yanks give to foreigners is the service cross. In the case of the Marines, that would therefore be the Navy Cross.

I'm not sure what a Para would think about prancing about with a sailor boy medal on his chest???

[Cheese Mechanic]

Kermit power said:

I think you'll find that the highest award the Yanks give to foreigners is the service cross. In the case of the Marines, that would therefore be the Navy Cross.
I'm not sure what a Para would think about prancing about with a sailor boy medal on his chest???

Not so, unless its changed , as example "Cats Eyes" Cunningham the famous WW2 RAF pilot received the Silver star. As did Keith Payne , the sole surviving Aussie vietnam VC

[Kermit power]

Cheese Mechanic said:

Kermit power said:

I think you'll find that the highest award the Yanks give to foreigners is the service cross. In the case of the Marines, that would therefore be the Navy Cross.
I'm not sure what a Para would think about prancing about with a sailor boy medal on his chest???

Not so, unless its changed , as example "Cats Eyes" Cunningham the famous WW2 RAF pilot received the Silver star. As did Keith Payne , the sole surviving Aussie vietnam VC

That may well be so, but in order of hierarchy, it goes as follows...

1. Medal of Honor (typing that without the u makes my teeth itch!!!)
2. Distinguished Service Cross/Navy Cross/Air Force Cross
3. Silver Star

So whilst foreign citizens can be awarded the Silver Star, it's not the highest honour they can be awarded.

[andy_s]

Fantastic, and a great attitude towards his colleagues/regiment in respect to a well deserved medal.

Hopefully he'll never have to buy a beer again.

[Cheese Mechanic]

Kermit power said:

That may well be so, but in order of hierarchy, it goes as follows...

1. Medal of Honor (typing that without the u makes my teeth itch!!!)
2. Distinguished Service Cross/Navy Cross/Air Force Cross
3. Silver Star

So whilst foreign citizens can be awarded the Silver Star, it's not the highest honour they can be awarded.

Aha! Well there we go, I was unaware of that. For some reason, I'd got it in my head that it went,(ascending) Bronze star , Silver star, MOH.

Never had a big interest in US OD&M, our own system being my speciality , perhaps an illustration of a little knowledge being dangerous.

[Kermit power]

Cheese Mechanic said:

Kermit power said:

That may well be so, but in order of hierarchy, it goes as follows...

1. Medal of Honor (typing that without the u makes my teeth itch!!!)
2. Distinguished Service Cross/Navy Cross/Air Force Cross
3. Silver Star

So whilst foreign citizens can be awarded the Silver Star, it's not the highest honour they can be awarded.

Aha! Well there we go, I was unaware of that. For some reason, I'd got it in my head that it went,(ascending) Bronze star , Silver star, MOH.

Never had a big interest in US OD&M, our own system being my speciality , perhaps an illustration of a little knowledge being dangerous.

No problem. My favourite knowledge when it comes to decorations of any nation is the knowledge that I can take the family to the Tower of London for free whenever I want to since my great aunt donated my great grandfather's MM to the Royal Fusiliers' Regimental museum, which is conveniently located inside the place!

[Dr Jekyll]

Asterix said:

Had a read up on the living VC holders. Fair play to our Aussie and Kiwi cousins.

New Zealander Charles Upham takes the prize though, awarded the VC twice.

[eccles]

ReallyReallyGood said:

Fantastic story.

Interesting family - having read about him on Wikipedia and followed it to a distant cousin...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigel_Leakey

"... the enemy made a sudden counterattack with both light and medium tanks. In the face of withering fire, Sergeant Leakey leaped on top of one of the tanks, wrenched open the turret and shot all the crew except the driver, whom he forced to drive the tank to cover. Along with three others, he tried to repeat this with another tank, but just as he opened the turret, he was killed."

Insane bravery.

That used to happen every week inside my Commando comic!

[TTmonkey]

eccles said:

That used to happen every week inside my Commando comic!

Do you realise that the Commando comics were actually the stories of the real life medal winners (they weren't fiction, they were graphical accounts of real actions etc)?

If you knew that already, apologies in advance,.

[eccles]

TTmonkey said:

eccles said:

That used to happen every week inside my Commando comic!

Do you realise that the Commando comics were actually the stories of the real life medal winners (they weren't fiction, they were graphical accounts of real actions etc)?

If you knew that already, apologies in advance,.

Yes I did realise that most of them were real stories, My comment was just a joke.

[TTmonkey]

eccles said:

Yes I did realise that most of them were real stories, My comment was just a joke.

good stuff, no worries then. I read them as a kid and just kind of assumed they were all just made up stories.
Only recently found out they weren't.

Would love to own them all again. Have they ever been reprinted do you know....?

[eccles]

TTmonkey said:

eccles said:

Yes I did realise that most of them were real stories, My comment was just a joke.

good stuff, no worries then. I read them as a kid and just kind of assumed they were all just made up stories.
Only recently found out they weren't.

Would love to own them all again. Have they ever been reprinted do you know....?

I believe they are still being printed, but for old ones car boot sales and ebay will be your best bet.

[TTmonkey]

eccles said:

I believe they are still being printed, but for old ones car boot sales and ebay will be your best bet.

Ah. need to spend some money now I think.... just didn't realise this was still going.

http://www.commandocomics.com/

[lemmingjames]

Waterstones do a big single book of the Commando series, not sure how old etc but they have them

[NoNeed]

TTmonkey said:

So how do we actually buy this guy a beer or two....?

Count me in when you find out.