Worthy of the Victoria Cross?

[srebbe64]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4358921.stm

“The soldier was at the head of a five-vehicle convoy when it came under attack in the town of al-Amarah on 1 May 2004. He guided the column through a mile of enemy ground to drop off wounded comrades at great risk to his own safety, his citation said.
Weeks later, his vehicle was hit by an rocket-propelled grenade round. Despite a head wound, he managed to reverse his Warrior to safety.”

Doubtless the above is extremely commendable – and he’s a very brave chap. But my understanding is that the VC is only given when a soldier “acts in a way that is almost certain to sacrifice his life for his mission”. I’m not entirely sure if the above qualifies.

Call me cynical, but is the Government trying to create some “proud to be British” and “Iraq ain’t so bad” posturing before a general election?

[pwig]

If you read some other papers, turns out he went back again after the second time to get his mate, so he wouldn't get taken hostage.

[neil.b]

They could at least make him a Dame, you don't have to do much to get that honor these days.

[stumartin]

I'm not in the least qualified to say whether he deserves it or not. He certainly did something incredibly brave in hugely dangerous circumstances, the like of which I can't even contemplate.

Nevertheless, I did find it amusing to hear various army dignitaries repeating "I've never been more proud of the British Army", "never been more proud" "ever", "in all my years..." ad infinitum, please don't mention abu ghraib again...

[billb]

i'm sure theres a million reasons to dis it in that its a publicity stunt by the army etc etc but boils down to it well done to the lad. he was v brave and deserves recognition although amd sure would rather have cash these days!

good on him

[Deltafox]

stumartin said:

I'm not in the least qualified to say whether he deserves it or not. He certainly did something incredibly brave in hugely dangerous circumstances, the like of which I can't even contemplate. Nevertheless, I did find it amusing to hear various army dignitaries repeating "I've never been more proud of the British Army", "never been more proud" "ever", "in all my years..." ad infinitum, please don't mention abu ghraib again...

This story isnt about abu ghraib though. Is it?
Its about the selfless actions of one man who put himself in the firing line twice to protect his fellow soldiers.
Far too quick to point at negativity..........

[tycho]

I'm sure the guys who he saved won't mind that he is awarded it.

[JagLover]

srebbe64 said:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4358921.stm “The soldier was at the head of a five-vehicle convoy when it came under attack in the town of al-Amarah on 1 May 2004. He guided the column through a mile of enemy ground to drop off wounded comrades at great risk to his own safety, his citation said. Weeks later, his vehicle was hit by an rocket-propelled grenade round. Despite a head wound, he managed to reverse his Warrior to safety.” Doubtless the above is extremely commendable – and he’s a very brave chap. But my understanding is that the VC is only given when a soldier “acts in a way that is almost certain to sacrifice his life for his mission”. I’m not entirely sure if the above qualifies. Call me cynical, but is the Government trying to create some “proud to be British” and “Iraq ain’t so bad” posturing before a general election?

If we nit-Pick about this I think we are doing the chap a disservice-he deserves a bravery award and the VC has always been political-look at the amount of awards given at Rorkes drift.

[GregE240]

I think we are being a bit too quick to politicize this chaps.

The blokes a bloody hero in my book. Give him the credit he deserves.

Its awarded by generals, not politicians.

[simpo two]

GregE240 said:

I think we are being a bit too quick to politicize this chaps. The blokes a bloody hero in my book. Give him the credit he deserves. Its awarded by generals, not politicians.

I agree, but there has been political pressure brought to bear in the past, eg James Nicholson in the Battle of Britain.

This does not take anything away from the bravery of the recipients. R4 had some miserable leftie on this morning saying that the Iraq war was illegal so the bloke was simply supporting war crimes. Doubtless the bravest thing said miserable leftie has ever done is decide which brand of lentils to buy. Stick him in the front line and see how he copes.

[srebbe64]

pwig said:

If you read some other papers, turns out he went back again after the second time to get his mate, so he wouldn't get taken hostage.

I stand corrected, the BBC didn't do him justice - I just read the entire citation and he had a 50/50 chance of survival. Clearly, this qualifies:

Beharry, who was born in Grenada and whose parents still live there, earned the Victoria Cross for two separate acts of bravery under fire in the town of al-Amarah, north of the southern Iraqi city of Basra last year. In the first incident on May 1, an armored vehicle that Beharry had been driving at the head of a six-vehicle convoy was hit by rocket propelled grenade fire while on a mission to rescue a foot patrol that was in trouble. "As a result of this ferocious initial volley of fire, both the platoon commander and the vehicle's gunner were incapacitated by concussion and other wounds and a number of soldiers in the rear of the vehicle were also wounded," the official citation said. Unable to tell whether his commander was alive, Beharry tried to drive his Warrior vehicle forward but was hit again by rocket propelled grenade fire. Realizing that the only way to save the lives of the men onboard and those in the vehicles behind was to keep going despite the incoming fire, the young soldier pushed forward through the ambush. "By doing this he was able to lead the remaining five Warriors behind him towards safety," the citation said. His vehicle in flames, Beharry then rescued his wounded commander, it added. A few weeks later on June 11, another convoy that Beharry was leading was ambushed and a grenade detonated six inches (15 centimeters) from his head. "With the blood from his head injury obscuring his vision, Beharry managed to continue to control his vehicle and forcefully reversed the Warrior out of the ambush," said the citation. The soldier, in the 1st Battalion, the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment, then collapsed unconscious and was given a 50:50 chance of survival. His citation reads: "For his repeated extreme gallantry and unquestioned valor, despite intense direct attacks, personal injury and damage to his vehicle in the face of relentless enemy action, Private Beharry deserves the highest possible recognition."

[off_again]

srebbe64 said:

I stand corrected, the BBC didn't do him justice - I just read the entire citation and he had a 50/50 chance of survival.

If you take a look at the pictures of the chap, you can clearly see the head and skull surgery that he has had - he has got some damn fine scars around his head and is still suffering from the painful injuries he suffered....

[Yertis]

Can't we get the title of this thread changed? Having read the Citation before seeing/reading the thread I was about to go off on one.

[stumartin]

Deltafox said:

stumartin said: I'm not in the least qualified to say whether he deserves it or not. He certainly did something incredibly brave in hugely dangerous circumstances, the like of which I can't even contemplate. Nevertheless, I did find it amusing to hear various army dignitaries repeating "I've never been more proud of the British Army", "never been more proud" "ever", "in all my years..." ad infinitum, please don't mention abu ghraib again... This story isnt about abu ghraib though. Is it? Its about the selfless actions of one man who put himself in the firing line twice to protect his fellow soldiers. Far too quick to point at negativity..........

I didn't say it was about abu ghraib. You'll also notice I talked first of my admiration for what the guy did.
Far too quick to point at something that wasn't there.......

[Hardcore2000]

is it cuz i iz black

i think even in the world we live in now with all the dumbing down if this does not qualify then you will be hard pressed to ever find another suiter for the VC in any future wars due to there nature

[Deltafox]

Stumartin said:

I didn't say it was about abu ghraib.

Why mention it then?

[Dilan]

Anyone see the prog about Jeremy Clarkson's father in law who got the VC - now there's a bloke with balls!

[FHCNICK]

GregE240 said:

I think we are being a bit too quick to politicize this chaps. The blokes a bloody hero in my book. Give him the credit he deserves. Its awarded by generals, not politicians.

Absolutely spot on Greg nothing more needs to be said !!

[LRdriver II]

Wasnt the previous one awarded in the Falklands after that guy charged the heavily defended mountain

[off_again]

LRdriver II said:

Wasnt the previous one awarded in the Falklands after that guy charged the heavily defended mountain

.....and died....