Johnson Beharry
Johnson Beharry | |
---|---|
Warrant Officer Class 2[1] | |
Unit | Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment (2001–12) Household Division (2012–present) |
Battles/wars | Kosovo War Northern Ireland Iraq War |
Awards | Victoria Cross Companion of the Order of Grenada |
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
Awards and campaign medals
Victoria Cross | For valour in Iraq | |
NATO Medal for Kosovo | For service in Kosovo | |
Iraq Medal | For service in Iraq | |
Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal | Presented to all living VC and GC recipients on 29 May 2012[7] | |
Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal | Presented to all living VC and GC recipients on 6 February 2022 | |
King Charles III Coronation Medal | Presented 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
Actions in Iraq
On 1 May 2004, Beharry was driving a
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
Citation and first living recipient in over 30 years
The full citation was published in a supplement to the
Beharry was the first recipient of the Victoria Cross since the
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
On 3 September 2007 Beharry visited the veterans mental health charity
On 19 May 2007 Beharry brought the
On 11 November 2008 Beharry acted as an escort to 110-year-old
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
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 was 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
On 11 September 2023, Beharry attended the opening ceremony of the National Army Cadet Force Museum, in the Octavia Hill Birthplace House. While at the museum, Beharry was interviewed about his history with the military and his own conversations with the cadets present at the opening ceremony. [23][24]
Honours
- On 22 July 2011 Johnson Beharry was awarded the Honorary degree of Doctor of Engineering (D.Eng) from the University of Sussex.[25][26]
- He was given the Freedom of the Borough of Southwark on 12 May 2012.[27][28]
- He was given the Freedom of the Borough of Hounslow on 17 September 2014.[29]
Notes
- ^ 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
- ^ "Supporting Surrey's Armed Forces communities". Surrey Matters. Surrey County Council. 22 March 2023. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
- ^ a b "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.
- ^ "VC hero Beharry splits from wife" Archived 21 March 2022 at the Wayback Machine, BBC News, 8 May 2005. Retrieved 2 June 2009.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Famous Freemasons". United Grand Lodge of England. 2022. Archived from the original on 17 June 2018. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
- ^ "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.
- ^ As a serving soldier with more than 5 years service, Cpl Beharry would have been entitled to this medal on its regular eligibility criteria.
- ^ "No. 62078". The London Gazette. 11 October 2017. p. 18918.
- ^ "No. 57587". The London Gazette (Supplement). 18 March 2005. pp. 3369–3370.
- ^ 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
- Daily TelegraphSaturday 23 September 2006
- ^ VC hero Beharry promoted, The Daily Telegraph, 26 September 2006
- ^ "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
- ^ Service marks lost WWI generation Archived 18 August 2017 at the Wayback Machine, BBC, 11 November 2009. Retrieved 11 November 2009.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Joe Biden forced to wait for seat after apparent late arrival at Queen's funeral". the Guardian. 19 September 2022. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
- ^ "JBVC Foundation". www.jbvc-foundation.org.uk. Archived from the original on 25 February 2021. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
- The Sunday Times, 18 September 2005). Retrieved 19 December 2007
- ISBN 978-0-316-73321-2
- ^ Hero's tale is 'too positive' for the BBC Archived 7 December 2017 at the Wayback Machine, The Daily Telegraph, 7 April 2007
- ^ Veteran mental care 'a disgrace' Archived 1 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine, BBC, 28 February 2009. Retrieved 2 March 2009
- ^ Johnson Beharry VC Interviewed at the Army Cadet Museum, retrieved 13 March 2024
- ^ "The National Army Cadet Force (ACF) Museum: A…". Army Cadets UK. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
- ^ "VC war hero given honorary degree". BBC. 22 July 2011. Archived from the original on 24 June 2018. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
- ^ "Summer graduation inspires a new generation of Sussex graduates". Archived from the original on 21 June 2018. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "The Freedom of the Borough of Southwark". Flickr. 12 May 2012. Archived from the original on 12 November 2016. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
- ^ 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.
External links
- A 'great hero' who saved comrades – full citation (BBC News, 18 March 2005)
- Private twice rescued colleagues while under heavy fire in Iraq (The Guardian, 18 March 2005)
- MOD press release (18 March 2005)
- Video Interview