Valor of the Highest Order
From Grenadian poverty, to being awarded the Victoria Cross and becoming a national hero, the life story of Colour Sergeant Johnson Gideon Beharry, VC, COG is quite simply remarkable.
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From Grenadian poverty, to being awarded the Victoria Cross and becoming a national hero, the life story of Colour Sergeant Johnson Gideon Beharry, VC, COG is quite simply remarkable.
Beharry originated from a region of India indentured labourers were brought from to the Caribbean.[2] He moved to the United Kingdom in 1999.
Beharry originated from a region of India indentured labourers were brought from to the Caribbean.[2] He moved to the United Kingdom in 1999.
On 1 May 2004, Beharry was driving a Warrior Tracked Armoured Vehicle to assist a foot patrol caught in a series of ambushes in Al-Amarah, Iraq. His vehicle was hit by multiple rocket propelled grenades, setting it on fire and cutting all radio comms.
Beharry had to act on his own initiative and opened his hatch to steer his vehicle. Exposing his face, head and chest while under relentless, intense enemy fire, he heroically drove through the ambush and rescued his wounded comrades from the burning vehicle. He was cited for 'valour of the highest order'.
Back on duty just a month later and 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. He suffered 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 drove the Warrior out of the ambush before losing consciousness.
He required brain surgery for his head injuries and had to learn to walk, speak, and eat again. He was still recovering in March 2005 when he was awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest military decoration for valour in the British and Commonwealth armed forces.
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.
On 26 September 2006 it was reported that he had been promoted to the rank of lance corporal.
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 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 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.
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.
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.
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 currently 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
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.
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Johnson has made hundreds of public appearances, speaking about his experiences in schools, youth offenders' centres and prisons, and continues to support young people involved in gang culture through his charity, the JBVC Foundation. He is always open to discussing how he can help others turn their lives around.