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Even as the Queen reached up to pin Britain's ultimate award for valour on the khaki tunic of Pte Johnson Beharry yesterday, he was thinking not of himself but of others.
Her Majesty had not awarded the Victoria Cross to a living recipient for 40 years. "You're very special," she told the 25-year-old Grenadan, who twice came close to death while saving the lives of colleagues during ambushes in Iraq last year.
The modest Pte Johnson Beharry: I wasn't thinking about a medal
But as the young soldier stood, ramrod straight, to receive this most prestigious of military honours at Buckingham Palace, his thoughts were with the comrades with whom he had fought in Iraq and who were with him again yesterday, receiving gallantry medals of their own.
"I was just thinking about everyone else who had helped me," said Pte Beharry, of the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment, following the investiture ceremony. "Because I didn't do it by myself, and I am happy that these guys are here with me today to see me receive it."
Such selflessness was typical of Pte Beharry, said Gen Sir Michael Jackson, the army's Chief of Staff, who was "by the happiest of coincidences" receiving the honour of Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath. "I hope others will look at young Beharry, what he did, the way in which he risked all.
"And I hope they think about what that means. Not 'Me, Me, Me' all the time, but 'Us'.
"What he displayed was raw courage and determination. You have seen the citation. Those words, when you put your imagination to work they really tell you what he did, risking his life for his comrades and other members of his team."
Pte Beharry's wife wants Will Smith to play him in a film version
As the lengthy citation was read aloud in the palace ballroom by Lord Luce, the Queen's Lord Chamberlain, the deep scars still visible on Pte Beharry's temple provided palpable proof of his bravery.
Twice the former painter and decorator, who left the Caribbean island of Grenada at the age of 20 to join the British Army, saved others while under attack.
On May 1, he was at the head of a five-vehicle convoy when it came under attack in the town of al-Amarah. Despite his own vehicle being ablaze, with his hatch open, his head exposed to enemy fire and with a bullet lodged in his helmet, he guided the column through a mile of enemy ground.
Then he dragged his badly wounded colleagues out of the vehicles before collapsing from exhaustion.
One month later, his vehicle was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade round yet, despite a serious head wound, he managed to reverse his Warrior armoured vehicle to safety before collapsing in a coma, from which his 23-year-old wife, Lynthia, was told he had only a 50:50 chance of recovering.
"When I hear what I did, I can't really believe it was me," he said as he posed outside the Palace with his VC - one of only 14 living holders of the medal.
"Having the medal is great. But when I did it, I didn't do it for a medal. I wasn't thinking about a medal.
"I didn't know what I was thinking. I just did it. And now, looking back on it, if I hadn't done it, I wouldn't have been able to live with myself today, knowing that I could have helped other soldiers not to die.
"The Queen said it was not very often she gets to give this honour, and she was very happy today."
Pte Beharry's was the first VC awarded since Lt Col H Jones and Sgt Ian McKay received posthumous awards after the Falklands War. And Gen Jackson said it was a day the likes of which the Army had not seen since the Falklands.
No fewer than seven other members of Pte Beharry's regiment were decorated for bravery for service in Iraq.
His commanding officers, Lt Col Matthew Maer and Major James Coote received the Distinguished Service Order, for leadership.
Sgt Christopher Broome received the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross, which is second only in prestige to the VC.
There were Military Crosses for Warrant Officer David Falconer, Sgt David Perfect, Cpl Brian Wood and Pte Troy Samuels. Lt Col Richard Deane, from the Royal Irish Regiment, who as Pte Beharry's platoon commander was twice saved by the young soldier during operations, also received the Military Cross.
"I am still receiving treatment for my injuries, so I am limited in what I can do," said Pte Beharry, who was the first to be decorated yesterday, outranking even Gen Jackson, who said he was "honoured" to follow.
"I hope to return to service, but I don't know when that will be, and I would go back to Iraq if I had to."
With his parents in Grenada, he was accompanied to the ceremony by his uncle, Raymond Beharry, and his aunt, Irene.
"The whole family is very proud," said Mr Beharry. "He has put Grenada on the map."
The island can draw inspiration from the son of a brick-maker who came to Britain in 1999. Pte Beharry grew up in a wooden hut, without running water, that he shared with his parents and seven brothers and sisters.
There is interest, now, in a book about Pte Beharry's experience - perhaps even a film.
"Really?" said his wife, his childhood sweetheart from Grenada.
"To be honest, I don't think he's taken everything in yet. Every day something new happens and, it's like his whole life has changed."
So if there is a film, who would she want to play her husband? "I think Will Smith. Yes. Definitely Will Smith," she said laughing.
maximus otter
Her Majesty had not awarded the Victoria Cross to a living recipient for 40 years. "You're very special," she told the 25-year-old Grenadan, who twice came close to death while saving the lives of colleagues during ambushes in Iraq last year.
The modest Pte Johnson Beharry: I wasn't thinking about a medal
But as the young soldier stood, ramrod straight, to receive this most prestigious of military honours at Buckingham Palace, his thoughts were with the comrades with whom he had fought in Iraq and who were with him again yesterday, receiving gallantry medals of their own.
"I was just thinking about everyone else who had helped me," said Pte Beharry, of the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment, following the investiture ceremony. "Because I didn't do it by myself, and I am happy that these guys are here with me today to see me receive it."
Such selflessness was typical of Pte Beharry, said Gen Sir Michael Jackson, the army's Chief of Staff, who was "by the happiest of coincidences" receiving the honour of Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath. "I hope others will look at young Beharry, what he did, the way in which he risked all.
"And I hope they think about what that means. Not 'Me, Me, Me' all the time, but 'Us'.
"What he displayed was raw courage and determination. You have seen the citation. Those words, when you put your imagination to work they really tell you what he did, risking his life for his comrades and other members of his team."
Pte Beharry's wife wants Will Smith to play him in a film version
As the lengthy citation was read aloud in the palace ballroom by Lord Luce, the Queen's Lord Chamberlain, the deep scars still visible on Pte Beharry's temple provided palpable proof of his bravery.
Twice the former painter and decorator, who left the Caribbean island of Grenada at the age of 20 to join the British Army, saved others while under attack.
On May 1, he was at the head of a five-vehicle convoy when it came under attack in the town of al-Amarah. Despite his own vehicle being ablaze, with his hatch open, his head exposed to enemy fire and with a bullet lodged in his helmet, he guided the column through a mile of enemy ground.
Then he dragged his badly wounded colleagues out of the vehicles before collapsing from exhaustion.
One month later, his vehicle was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade round yet, despite a serious head wound, he managed to reverse his Warrior armoured vehicle to safety before collapsing in a coma, from which his 23-year-old wife, Lynthia, was told he had only a 50:50 chance of recovering.
"When I hear what I did, I can't really believe it was me," he said as he posed outside the Palace with his VC - one of only 14 living holders of the medal.
"Having the medal is great. But when I did it, I didn't do it for a medal. I wasn't thinking about a medal.
"I didn't know what I was thinking. I just did it. And now, looking back on it, if I hadn't done it, I wouldn't have been able to live with myself today, knowing that I could have helped other soldiers not to die.
"The Queen said it was not very often she gets to give this honour, and she was very happy today."
Pte Beharry's was the first VC awarded since Lt Col H Jones and Sgt Ian McKay received posthumous awards after the Falklands War. And Gen Jackson said it was a day the likes of which the Army had not seen since the Falklands.
No fewer than seven other members of Pte Beharry's regiment were decorated for bravery for service in Iraq.
His commanding officers, Lt Col Matthew Maer and Major James Coote received the Distinguished Service Order, for leadership.
Sgt Christopher Broome received the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross, which is second only in prestige to the VC.
There were Military Crosses for Warrant Officer David Falconer, Sgt David Perfect, Cpl Brian Wood and Pte Troy Samuels. Lt Col Richard Deane, from the Royal Irish Regiment, who as Pte Beharry's platoon commander was twice saved by the young soldier during operations, also received the Military Cross.
"I am still receiving treatment for my injuries, so I am limited in what I can do," said Pte Beharry, who was the first to be decorated yesterday, outranking even Gen Jackson, who said he was "honoured" to follow.
"I hope to return to service, but I don't know when that will be, and I would go back to Iraq if I had to."
With his parents in Grenada, he was accompanied to the ceremony by his uncle, Raymond Beharry, and his aunt, Irene.
"The whole family is very proud," said Mr Beharry. "He has put Grenada on the map."
The island can draw inspiration from the son of a brick-maker who came to Britain in 1999. Pte Beharry grew up in a wooden hut, without running water, that he shared with his parents and seven brothers and sisters.
There is interest, now, in a book about Pte Beharry's experience - perhaps even a film.
"Really?" said his wife, his childhood sweetheart from Grenada.
"To be honest, I don't think he's taken everything in yet. Every day something new happens and, it's like his whole life has changed."
So if there is a film, who would she want to play her husband? "I think Will Smith. Yes. Definitely Will Smith," she said laughing.
maximus otter
