Johnson Beharry
Lance Corporal Johnson Beharry in July 2007
Born (1979-07-26) 26 July 1979
Grenada
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branchBritish Army
Years of service2001–present
RankWarrant Officer Class 2[1]
UnitPrincess of Wales's Royal Regiment (2001–12)
Household Division (2012–present)
Battles/warsKosovo War
Northern Ireland
Iraq War
AwardsVictoria Cross
Companion of the Order of Grenada

Warrant Officer Class 2 Johnson Gideon Beharry, VC, COG (born 26 July 1979) is a British Army soldier who, on 18 March 2005, was awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest military decoration for valour in the British and Commonwealth armed forces, for saving members of his unit, the 1st Battalion Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment, from ambushes on 1 May and again on 11 June 2004 at Al-Amarah, Iraq. He sustained serious head injuries in the latter engagement. Beharry was formally invested with the Victoria Cross by Queen Elizabeth II on 27 April 2005.

Personal life

Beharry was born in Grenada, and has four brothers and three sisters. Beharry is of Dougla (African and Indian) descent.[2] His surname is the anglicised depiction of Bihari, originating from a region of India from which indentured labourers were brought to the Caribbean.[2] He moved to the United Kingdom in 1999. He is divorced from his first wife Lynthia Beharry, who is also from Grenada. Beharry said, in an official statement released through the Ministry of Defence, that the trauma of his war experiences had caused difficulties in his marriage.[3]

He subsequently remarried in London on 18 March 2013 to Mallissa Venice Noel and they now have two children, a boy and a girl.[4] Beharry is active in Freemasonry, attending London's Queensman Lodge No. 2694.[5]

Army career

Beharry joined the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment in August 2001. After training at Catterick, he became a driver of Warrior armoured vehicles in C Company, 1st Battalion. Prior to Iraq, he served for six months in Kosovo and three months in Northern Ireland.[6]

Awards and campaign medals

Victoria CrossFor valour in Iraq
Kosovo MedalFor service in Kosovo
Iraq MedalFor service in Iraq
Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee MedalPresented to all living VC and GC recipients on 29 May 2012[7]
Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee MedalPresented to all living VC and GC recipients on 6 February 2022
King Charles III Coronation MedalPresented to all living VC and GC recipients on 6 May 2023
Medal for Long Service and Good Conduct (Military)For 15 years regular army service, 4 October 2016
Companion of the Order of Grenada[8]

Although Beharry served three months in Northern Ireland, Beharry's service was during the firefighters' strike, when he manned a fire tender. As such he was not engaged in the operational nature of service in Northern Ireland and did not qualify for the General Service Medal (GSM) with Northern Ireland clasp.

Actions in Iraq

Beharry's medal group on display in 2005

On 1 May 2004, Beharry was driving a Warrior Tracked Armoured Vehicle that had been called to the assistance of a foot patrol caught in a series of ambushes. The Warrior was hit by multiple rocket propelled grenades, causing damage and resulting in the loss of radio communications. The platoon commander, the vehicle's gunner and a number of other soldiers in the vehicle were injured. Due to damage to his periscope optics, Beharry was forced to open his hatch to steer his vehicle, exposing his face and head to withering small arms fire. Beharry drove the disabled Warrior through the ambush, taking his own crew and leading five other Warriors to safety. He then extracted his wounded comrades from the vehicle, all the time exposed to further enemy fire. He was cited on this occasion for "valour of the highest order".

While back on duty on 11 June 2004, Beharry was again driving the lead Warrior of his platoon through Al Amarah when his vehicle was ambushed. A rocket propelled grenade hit the vehicle six inches from Beharry's head, and he received serious shrapnel injuries to his face and brain. Other rockets then hit the vehicle, incapacitating his commander and injuring several of the crew. Despite his life-threatening injuries, Beharry retained control of his vehicle and drove it out of the ambush area before losing consciousness. He required brain surgery for his head injuries, and he was still recovering in March 2005 when he was awarded the Victoria Cross.

Citation and first living recipient in over 30 years

The full citation was published in a supplement to the London Gazette of 18 March 2005 and commented, "Private Beharry carried out two individual acts of great heroism by which he saved the lives of his comrades. Both were in direct face of the enemy, under intense fire, at great personal risk to himself (one leading to him sustaining very serious injuries)... Beharry displayed repeated extreme gallantry and unquestioned valour, despite intense direct attacks, personal injury and damage to his vehicle in the face of relentless enemy action."[9]

Beharry was the first recipient of the Victoria Cross since the posthumous awards to Lieutenant Colonel H. Jones and Sergeant Ian John McKay for service in the Falklands War in 1982. He was the first living recipient of the VC since Keith Payne and Rayene Stewart Simpson, both Australian, for actions in Vietnam in 1969, and the first living recipient of the VC in the British Army since Rambahadur Limbu, a Gurkha, in the Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation in 1965. At the time of his award, he was one of only ten[nb 1] living recipients of the VC.[10]

Afterwards

As of 23 September 2006, as a result of his injuries, he still had severe pain in his back and head. He continued to be financially supported by the army but was unfit for duty due to the serious nature of his injuries in combat.[11]

On 26 September 2006 it was reported that he had been promoted to the rank of lance corporal.[12]

In February 2007 his portrait was presented to the National Portrait Gallery in London by the artist Emma Wesley and has since become part of the gallery's collection.

On 3 September 2007 Beharry visited the veterans mental health charity Gardening Leave to open the Poppy Collection.[13]

On 19 May 2007 Beharry brought the FA Cup onto the field at the new Wembley Stadium before the final between Chelsea and Manchester United.

On 11 November 2008 Beharry acted as an escort to 110-year-old Harry Patch, then one of only three remaining British survivors of the First World War, at the Cenotaph in London's Whitehall to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the signing of the armistice which ended that conflict. On 11 November 2009, Beharry, and Mark Donaldson—the first recipient of the Victoria Cross for Australia (though not the first Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross)—handed a wreath to the Queen during a service in Westminster Abbey which marked the deaths in 2009 of the last three veterans of the First World War resident in the United Kingdom, Bill Stone, Henry Allingham and Harry Patch. The wreath was then laid on the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior.[14]

In December 2008 he drove his car into a lamppost at 100 mph in a suicide attempt, depressed and haunted by nightmares of his time in Iraq. He escaped unharmed and sought help from the organization Combat Stress. He later spoke out urging similarly affected veterans to do the same.[15]

On 30 April 2010 Beharry visited Duke of York's Royal Military School to take the salute at Parade and to present the Baroness Thatcher Sword of Honour to the JUO of the winning Guard at Drill Competition. The Sword of Honour was first presented by Baroness Thatcher the previous year. He took time to talk to pupils on Parade and visited the boys of Roberts House.

On 1 June 2012 Beharry was promoted to corporal and moved to a public relations role with the Household Division. He therefore held the appointment of lance sergeant, as do all corporals serving in the Household Division.

On 30 June 2012 Beharry carried the torch for the 2012 Summer Olympics through the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas.[16]

His current rank as of March 2023 is Warrant Officer Class 2.

At the 2022 State funeral of Elizabeth II Beharry pushed the wheelchair of Keith Payne, VC.[17]

In addition to still serving in the army within the London District, he is now very active with his charitable foundation set up on 5 September 2014. The JBVC Foundation supports youths in getting away from gang culture and helps rehabilitate former offenders, helping with training and getting them into sustainable employment in the future.[18]

At the Coronation of Charles III and Camilla, he is the Standard-bearer for Grenada in the procession of Commonwealth officials.

Publishing deal

On 18 September 2005 it was reported in the press that Beharry had obtained a publishing deal worth £1.5 million to write an autobiography of his experiences.[19] His book, entitled Barefoot Soldier, was ghostwritten in collaboration with Nick Cook and was published in October 2006.[20]

In the media

Beharry was interviewed for the 2006 television docudrama Victoria Cross Heroes which also included archive footage and dramatisations of his actions.

According to The Daily Telegraph, a planned 90-minute drama about Beharry was cancelled by the BBC in 2007 allegedly because it was too positive and would alienate members of the audience opposed to the war in Iraq.[21]

He spoke out on BBC News on 28 February 2009 criticising the lack of support for ex-servicemen and women suffering from mental health problems, and revealing his own ongoing flashbacks and other symptoms.[22]

From 9 January to 20 March 2011, Beharry competed in the 2011 season of Dancing on Ice. He was partnered with Canadian ice skater, Jodeyne Higgins. He reached the semi-finals, broadcast on 20 March 2011.

In 2013 a portrait was painted of Beharry in the first series of Artist of the Year by Nick Lord.

On 11 November 2012 Beharry appeared on the Aled Jones Radio 2 show.

On 28 October 2016 Beharry appeared on the BBC Cookery show Great British Menu where he, along with other recipients of honours from Elizabeth II, was guest at a banquet honouring Great Britons who had been awarded honours such as OBEs and CBEs during Queen Elizabeth II's reign.

Honours

Notes

  1. ↑ Including one living holder of the Victoria Cross for New Zealand, Willie Apiata, and three living recipients of the Victoria Cross for Australia, Mark Donaldson, Ben Roberts-Smith and Daniel Keighran.

References

  1. ↑ "Supporting Surrey's Armed Forces communities". Surrey Matters. Surrey County Council. 22 March 2023. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  2. 1 2 "I wouldn't say I am lucky… Interview with Johnson Beharry, VC – The Best You Magazine". 17 May 2013. Archived from the original on 27 September 2020. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  3. ↑ "VC hero Beharry splits from wife" Archived 21 March 2022 at the Wayback Machine, BBC News, 8 May 2005. Retrieved 2 June 2009.
  4. ↑ "Guests at VC hero Johnson Beharry's secret wedding ordered to surrender phones". London Evening Standard. 18 March 2013. Archived from the original on 3 April 2015. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  5. ↑ "Famous Freemasons". United Grand Lodge of England. 2022. Archived from the original on 17 June 2018. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
  6. ↑ "Private Johnson Gideon Beharry – Victoria Cross" Archived 18 March 2005 at the Wayback Machine, Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom), 18 March 2005. Retrieved 10 January 2010.
  7. ↑ As a serving soldier with more than 5 years service, Cpl Beharry would have been entitled to this medal on its regular eligibility criteria.
  8. ↑ "No. 62078". The London Gazette. 11 October 2017. p. 18918.
  9. ↑ "No. 57587". The London Gazette (Supplement). 18 March 2005. pp. 3369–3370.
  10. ↑ The question — How many people hold the Victoria Cross? Archived 21 March 2022 at the Wayback Machine (The Guardian, 26 June 2006). Retrieved 19 December 2007
  11. ↑ Daily Telegraph Saturday 23 September 2006
  12. ↑ VC hero Beharry promoted, The Daily Telegraph, 26 September 2006
  13. ↑ "MoD should do more to help support Scotland's war veterans" Archived 29 November 2014 at the Wayback Machine, The Scotsman, Tuesday 5 September 2007. Retrieved 16 November 2014
  14. ↑ Service marks lost WWI generation Archived 18 August 2017 at the Wayback Machine, BBC, 11 November 2009. Retrieved 11 November 2009.
  15. ↑ Taylor, Matthew (17 May 2010). "Depressed war hero tried to end life after service in Iraq". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 4 November 2013. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
  16. ↑ "Olympic torch: War hero carries flame at national memorial". BBC News. 30 June 2012. Archived from the original on 8 May 2021. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  17. ↑ "Joe Biden forced to wait for seat after apparent late arrival at Queen's funeral". the Guardian. 19 September 2022. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
  18. ↑ "JBVC Foundation". www.jbvc-foundation.org.uk. Archived from the original on 25 February 2021. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  19. ↑ Iraq VC hero nets £1m deal in publishers’ bidding war Archived 12 January 2008 at archive.today (The Sunday Times, 18 September 2005). Retrieved 19 December 2007
  20. ↑ Johnson, Beharry and Cook, Nick. Barefoot Soldier, Little, Brown Book Group, (5 October 2006), ISBN 978-0-316-73321-2
  21. ↑ Hero's tale is 'too positive' for the BBC Archived 7 December 2017 at the Wayback Machine, The Daily Telegraph, 7 April 2007
  22. ↑ Veteran mental care 'a disgrace' Archived 1 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine, BBC, 28 February 2009. Retrieved 2 March 2009
  23. ↑ "VC war hero given honorary degree". BBC. 22 July 2011. Archived from the original on 24 June 2018. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
  24. ↑ "Summer graduation inspires a new generation of Sussex graduates". Archived from the original on 21 June 2018. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
  25. ↑ "Sir Michael Caine receives Freedom of the Borough of Southwarl". Southwark Council. 14 May 2012. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  26. ↑ "The Freedom of the Borough of Southwark". Flickr. 12 May 2012. Archived from the original on 12 November 2016. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  27. ↑ Cumber, Robert (17 September 2014). "VC hero Johnson Beharry says Hounslow will always feel like home". Archived from the original on 20 June 2018. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
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