Victoria Cross awarded for first time in 20 years


LONDON (Reuters) - An armoured vehicle driver who twice drove out of
ambushes under fire in Iraq will become the first recipient of
Britain's
top military honour in more than 20 years, the Ministry of Defence
says.


Private Johnson Beharry of the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment will
be the first person to receive the Victoria Cross since 1982 and the
first living recipient since 1965.


He was cited for "valour of the highest order" after he drove out of an

ambush of rocket-propelled grenades and extracted his wounded
colleagues
from the vehicle while under fire in May 2004.


Six weeks later his vehicle was again attacked by rockets. His
commander
and other troops were incapacitated and he was seriously wounded in the

head, but he kept driving to safety until he lost consciousness, the
ministry said in a statement.


His citation reads: "For his repeated extreme gallantry and
unquestioned
valour, 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."


Only a handful of recipients of the Victoria Cross are still alive,
mostly veterans of World War Two.


The medal was first awarded by Queen Victoria in 1857 for bravery
during
the Crimean War and has been given only 11 times since 1945.


The last two recipients were Ian John McKay and Herbert Jones, both of
whom died charging enemy positions during the Falklands War in 1982.


Beharry was included in a list this week of more than 140 British
troops
awarded honours for roles in Iraq, Afghanistan, Northern Ireland, the
Balkans, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Congo.