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

[Cheese Mechanic]

Kermit power said:

Ooh, that would be nice, thanks! I've got names, ranks and regiments, but not serial numbers. I'll see if I can find those from relatives, and then drop you a PM.

Yes, do that , incidentally, have you ever tried entering any of the names into the search engine here?

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/

Your Chitral veteran may have papers, and your MM men will have MIC's (Medal Index cards) These cards were specific for WW1.

[audidoody]

Does anyone think he may have to keep looking over his shoulder now that every Alley Ack Bar in the land knows who he is ....

Nt that he couldn't handle himself in the normal course of events.

[greggy50]

Fair play to the bloke unbelievable bravery and as mentioned basically impossible to win one of these in the modern age.

Would recommend the Clarkson documentary on the VC Cross to anyone believe it is available on youtube and tells some great tales of bravery from other recipients with a interesting twist at the end.

[Camoradi]

Tyre Tread said:

I am grateful we have such people out there doing their job with such bravery and heroism and protecting our way of life.

These guys really are the definition of heroes.

I salute you L/Cpl Leakey.

Now, where is the donation box.

I've just made a donation to the parachute regiment charity through here.

http://supportourparas.org/donations/

[brian394]

Camoradi said:

Tyre Tread said:

I am grateful we have such people out there doing their job with such bravery and heroism and protecting our way of life.

These guys really are the definition of heroes.

I salute you L/Cpl Leakey.

Now, where is the donation box.

I've just made a donation to the parachute regiment charity through here.

http://supportourparas.org/donations/

Ye, donate to that charity over H4H... You're also helping the Touring Car team aswell (even tho they aren't finaclly support by the charity), but the more exposure they get, the better...

[Asterix]

Again - Well Done Mate

Lcpl Josh Leakey got his Gong yesterday.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/defence/115...

[Stuart70]

Absolutely humbling.

[Stuart70]

Absolutely humbling.

[richarda0109]

Reading the article I am struck by how he always puts his regiment, family and friends before himself. I am certainly proud that in todays world of me me me we have someone like him to look up to.

I think the nation including the "great and good" should learn a great deal from what this man did.

Rgds
Richard

[NoNeed]

I think we should go further with this honour, a man that is prepared to do what is right and what is necessary even if it may not be right for himself should have a seat in our lords. It's about time we started putting our great people in there rather than filling it with shoddy politicians who go there for what they can get.

[Asterix]

I have a strong feeling that a man such as Lcpl Leakey would firstly turn that down, and if he did end up in the Lords, he'd end up shooting most them by the end of the first week.

[Tyre Tread]

Asterix said:

I have a strong feeling that a man such as Lcpl Leakey would firstly turn that down, and if he did end up in the Lords, he'd end up shooting most them by the end of the first week.

You say that like it would be a bad thing

[NoNeed]

Tyre Tread said:

Asterix said:

I have a strong feeling that a man such as Lcpl Leakey would firstly turn that down, and if he did end up in the Lords, he'd end up shooting most them by the end of the first week.

You say that like it would be a bad thing

Just adds weight to the argument

[Asterix]

Tyre Tread said:

Asterix said:

I have a strong feeling that a man such as Lcpl Leakey would firstly turn that down, and if he did end up in the Lords, he'd end up shooting most them by the end of the first week.

You say that like it would be a bad thing

While not a bad thing, I'd prefer grenades.

[CambsBill]

What a contrast to the story also running about the teenager whose parents sued their council after he suffered brain damage after jumping on a glass skylight during a burglary. What a relief to have an individual, not to mention the whole of the Parachute Regiment, of whom we can be proud.

Couldn't help but smile at the pictures from the ceremony though, I tend to forget how short in stature the Queen is but she's standing on a step and still looking up at him

[Asterix]

CambsBill said:

What a contrast to the story also running about the teenager whose parents sued their council after he suffered brain damage after jumping on a glass skylight during a burglary. What a relief to have an individual, not to mention the whole of the Parachute Regiment, of whom we can be proud.

Couldn't help but smile at the pictures from the ceremony though, I tend to forget how short in stature the Queen is but she's standing on a step and still looking up at him

You should see the size of this bugger - Ben Roberts Smith, Aussie SAS and VC of Australia recipient.

[Beati Dogu]

Cheese Mechanic said:

The action you quote concerns Kelly's Force http://www.britishbattles.com/north-west-frontier-...

The siege and releif of Chitral was a great Victorian melodrama . Our gallant upstanding chaps cut off and outnumbered in the fort at Chitral, many many miles from help. The journey of Kelly's Force was held up by the Victorians as a great example of pluck countering adversity. Its unlikely your relative would have been on that march though, as apart from the Officers , the men were almost exclusively Indian Army.

Your relative, would most likely have been with Lowe's force which took a longer more conventional route to Chitral. As said though, Kelly's march was an exemplary achievement and rightfully lauded by the Victorian public. I am lucky to have a somewhat scarce medal to a man who was in the locally raised Hunza levy. He was with Kelly's force , I wish that simple piece of silver could talk.

As regards your relatives medals, if of interest, If you could furnish their details, full name, rank(s) regiment and serial numbers , I could put them out over the collector circuit to see if anyone has them or has seen them. Obviously, in real terms, the possibility is fairly slim, but it does happen, I've witnessed it numerous times. Some remarkable stories to relate.

My great grandfather was involved with the Chitral relief effort. I found that out when I looked up his details in the National Records Office in Kew a few years ago. He was in the Gordon Highlanders at the time, although he was actually English. I have a fine picture of him in his sergeant's uniform on his wedding day in Edinburgh in 1900. He married a local girl when he was based at the castle. Sadly he died in the late 1920s, but I actually met his wife, my great grandmother, when I was very young.