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| Sunday, 13 March 2005 |
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Britain to issue first Victoria Cross in 23 years for Iraq soldier LONDON, Saturday (AFP) A British soldier who braved gunfire to rescue dozens of comrades in southern Iraq is to receive the first Victoria Cross, the military's top award for bravery, issued in 23 years, a report said Saturday. Private Johnston Barry, an armoured vehicle driver from the Princess of Wales Royal Regiment, has been approved for the honour by the Ministry of Defence, the Daily Mail newspaper said. The 24-year-old, who was born in Grenada in the West Indies, was part of a British convoy attacked in Al-Amarah, southern Iraq, in May last year, the paper said. He smashed his burning vehicle through a barricade to force an escape route and dragged free his unconscious platoon commander before returning under heavy gunfire a number of other times to rescue more wounded. A few days later, Barry saved more British troops during another ambush, suffering head injuries himself and being flown back home. `If Barry's receipt of the Victoria Cross, or VC, is formally approved it will be the first such bravery award since 1982, when two British soldiers were honoured for their actions in the Falklands War against Argentina. Both the Falklands medals were awarded posthumously. Historians have estimated that such is the level of bravery necessary to receive a VC that the chances of survival are only around one in 10. Awarded 1,354 times since 1856 for outstanding gallantry in the face of enemy action, every VC is made by London jewellers Hancocks from the bronze of two cannons captured from the Russian army during the Crimean War. |
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