Back from Iraq, and now out of hospital, Private (now Lance Corporal) Johnson Beharry of the 1st Batallion Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment is telling his story. The whole of this extraordinarily brave man’s tale is very well worth reading, but this is worth repeating here:

After we’ve settled down, Colonel Maer explains why he has brought us here. He stares at his feet for a moment, then looks at us.”Around a week ago, I was told, under strict instructions not to tell a living soul, that the battalion would receive a number of awards for our contribution to Operation Telic Four. You, gentlemen, are all among those who are going to be honoured.” Mr Deane and CSM Falconer look stunned when he tells them they have both been awarded Military Crosses. He then turns to Broomstick. “The Conspicuous Gallantry Cross for you, Sergeant Broome. Second only to the Victoria Cross for bravery in the face of the enemy.” Broomstick almost falls off his chair. “Bloody hell,” he says. “Me? Why me, sir?” There’s a long pause, then the CO looks at me. “Beharry,” he says, “this one’s rather special. They haven’t handed one of these out for quite a while. It gives me the very deepest pleasure to tell you that you are going to receive the Victoria Cross.” I hear what he says, but it doesn’t really register. I look up and see Broomstick beaming from ear to ear. And I swear I can see tears in his eyes again. “What was going through your head during that second engagement?” a journalist asks me at a press conference the next day. “A rocket-propelled grenade,” I say.