Victoria Cross hero Joshua Leakey receives medal

Para receives medal from Queen during Windsor Castle investiture ceremony as he becomes first living British serviceman to receive honour since 2005

The Queen has told a young paratrooper, "I don't get to give this one out very often", as she presented him with his Victoria Cross for bravery in Afghanistan.

L/Cpl Joshua Leakey became the first living British recipient of the medal from the Afghan conflict for his courage in three times running through heavy fire to set up machine guns and beat back a Taliban attack.

The 27-year-old member of the Parachute Regiment was awarded Britain’s highest medal for battlefield gallantry after showing "complete disregard" for his safety during the incident in Helmand in August 2013.



The citation detailing his actions was read out before he was presented with the medal during and investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle.

L/Cpl Leakey, from Hampshire, played down his actions and paid tribute to his comrades.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/defence/11534581/Victoria-Cross-hero-Joshua-Leakey-receives-medal.html

The most important news today certainly in a military sense is of Joshua Leakey - a real hero to us all and so brave.

What a brave young man who deserves that honour.

Fine looking young man. Congrats for a job well done.