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| 'Extraordinary courage' of soldier killed in Afghanistan earns Victoria Cross | 'Extraordinary courage' of soldier killed in Afghanistan earns Victoria Cross |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| A British soldier who died as he protected the lives of his comrades in Afghanistan is to be awarded the Victoria Cross. | A British soldier who died as he protected the lives of his comrades in Afghanistan is to be awarded the Victoria Cross. |
| The medal recognises Lance Corporal James Ashworth's "extraordinary courage" while serving with the 1st Battalion The Grenadier Guards in Helmand province last year. | The medal recognises Lance Corporal James Ashworth's "extraordinary courage" while serving with the 1st Battalion The Grenadier Guards in Helmand province last year. |
| The Victoria Cross, the country's highest award for gallantry, has been awarded just 10 times to UK soldiers since the second world war. | The Victoria Cross, the country's highest award for gallantry, has been awarded just 10 times to UK soldiers since the second world war. |
| The posthumous award to Ashworth is the second Victoria Cross to be awarded to a soldier from the UK from the 12-year conflict in Afghanistan. A Victoria Cross was awarded to Corporal Bryan Budd of 3 Para, who died fighting the Taliban in 2006. | The posthumous award to Ashworth is the second Victoria Cross to be awarded to a soldier from the UK from the 12-year conflict in Afghanistan. A Victoria Cross was awarded to Corporal Bryan Budd of 3 Para, who died fighting the Taliban in 2006. |
| Ashworth, a 23-year-old from Kettering, Northamptonshire, was killed in the Nahr-e-Siraj district on 13 June when his reconnaissance platoon became involved in a battle with the Taliban inside enemy-held compounds. | Ashworth, a 23-year-old from Kettering, Northamptonshire, was killed in the Nahr-e-Siraj district on 13 June when his reconnaissance platoon became involved in a battle with the Taliban inside enemy-held compounds. |
| He fought against huge odds, deliberately exposing himself to enemy fire, and died from a grenade blast as he tried to protect his men. Officials said he also took care to ensure there were no civilians in the line of fire. | He fought against huge odds, deliberately exposing himself to enemy fire, and died from a grenade blast as he tried to protect his men. Officials said he also took care to ensure there were no civilians in the line of fire. |
| Ashworth's comrades spoke of their pride in his bravery, and told how the death of such an "outstanding soldier" would leave a gaping hole in the battalion. | Ashworth's comrades spoke of their pride in his bravery, and told how the death of such an "outstanding soldier" would leave a gaping hole in the battalion. |
| His company commander, Captain Mike Dobbin, said at the time of his death: "Lance Corporal Ashworth was killed while fighting his way through compounds; leading his fire team from the front, whilst trying to protect his men; and he showed extraordinary courage to close on a determined enemy. | His company commander, Captain Mike Dobbin, said at the time of his death: "Lance Corporal Ashworth was killed while fighting his way through compounds; leading his fire team from the front, whilst trying to protect his men; and he showed extraordinary courage to close on a determined enemy. |
| "My thoughts and prayers are with his family and his girlfriend, who should be extremely proud of the courage he displayed and the life that he led. I am humbled by what I saw of Lance Corporal Ashworth's actions and will never forget him." | "My thoughts and prayers are with his family and his girlfriend, who should be extremely proud of the courage he displayed and the life that he led. I am humbled by what I saw of Lance Corporal Ashworth's actions and will never forget him." |
| Guardsman Jordan Loftus said: "Selfless, brave, courageous - words like these don't come close to what Ash demonstrated that day." | Guardsman Jordan Loftus said: "Selfless, brave, courageous - words like these don't come close to what Ash demonstrated that day." |
| Ashworth was a soldier for five years and came from a family with strong military links. His father, Duane, was also a Grenadier Guard, while his younger brother Coran is also a soldier. | Ashworth was a soldier for five years and came from a family with strong military links. His father, Duane, was also a Grenadier Guard, while his younger brother Coran is also a soldier. |
| He also left behind his mother, Kerryann, sisters Lauren and Paige, brother Karl and four-year-old niece Darcy, as well as his girlfriend, Emily. | He also left behind his mother, Kerryann, sisters Lauren and Paige, brother Karl and four-year-old niece Darcy, as well as his girlfriend, Emily. |
| His family paid tribute to him after his death, saying: "We are devastated by the loss of our son, brother, uncle and boyfriend. He meant the world to everyone and has left an irreplaceable hole in our hearts." | His family paid tribute to him after his death, saying: "We are devastated by the loss of our son, brother, uncle and boyfriend. He meant the world to everyone and has left an irreplaceable hole in our hearts." |
| Sergeant Vandell McLean, his platoon sergeant, wrote at the time: "My sorrow is with his family at this time of loss. Please take comfort in knowing that Lance Corporal Ashworth died protecting me, his mates and the rest of the platoon." | Sergeant Vandell McLean, his platoon sergeant, wrote at the time: "My sorrow is with his family at this time of loss. Please take comfort in knowing that Lance Corporal Ashworth died protecting me, his mates and the rest of the platoon." |
| Lieutenant-Commander James Bowder, MBE, commander of the 1st Battalion The Grenadier Guards, called him "an outstanding soldier". | Lieutenant-Commander James Bowder, MBE, commander of the 1st Battalion The Grenadier Guards, called him "an outstanding soldier". |
| The award will be officially confirmed by the Ministry of Defence next week. | The award will be officially confirmed by the Ministry of Defence next week. |
| The Victoria Cross is the Commonwealth's highest award for gallantry. Instituted by Queen Victoria in 1856, it is awarded for "most conspicuous bravery, or some daring or pre-eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice, or extreme devotion to duty in the presence of the enemy". | The Victoria Cross is the Commonwealth's highest award for gallantry. Instituted by Queen Victoria in 1856, it is awarded for "most conspicuous bravery, or some daring or pre-eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice, or extreme devotion to duty in the presence of the enemy". |
| The bronze cross, which has a crimson ribbon, bears the inscription "For Valour", is cast from the metal of Russian guns captured at the siege of Sevastopol during the Crimean war, the campaign in which the first medals were awarded. | The bronze cross, which has a crimson ribbon, bears the inscription "For Valour", is cast from the metal of Russian guns captured at the siege of Sevastopol during the Crimean war, the campaign in which the first medals were awarded. |
| The Victoria Cross may be awarded to all ranks of the services – and also to civilians – to recognise gallantry in the presence of the enemy. | The Victoria Cross may be awarded to all ranks of the services – and also to civilians – to recognise gallantry in the presence of the enemy. |
| The medal has been awarded 1,356 times, the most recent of which was the posthumous award to Budd, of the 3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment, for acts of "inspirational leadership and the greatest valour" in southern Afghanistan in 2006. | The medal has been awarded 1,356 times, the most recent of which was the posthumous award to Budd, of the 3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment, for acts of "inspirational leadership and the greatest valour" in southern Afghanistan in 2006. |
| Only 13 Victoria Cross medals have been awarded since the second world war, nine to members of the British army and four to the Australian army [see footnote]. | Only 13 Victoria Cross medals have been awarded since the second world war, nine to members of the British army and four to the Australian army [see footnote]. |
| Ashworth's is just the fifth to have been awarded since the Falklands war, and all but one have been posthumous. | Ashworth's is just the fifth to have been awarded since the Falklands war, and all but one have been posthumous. |
| Private Johnson Beharry, from 1st Battalion the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment, was awarded the honour for two separate acts of outstanding gallantry to rescue his comrades in Iraq in 2004, during which he suffered serious head injuries. | Private Johnson Beharry, from 1st Battalion the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment, was awarded the honour for two separate acts of outstanding gallantry to rescue his comrades in Iraq in 2004, during which he suffered serious head injuries. |
| • This article was amended on 19 March 2013 to clarify the following: Fourteen servicemen have been awarded the Victoria Cross by the British honours system since the second world war (10 from the British army, and four Australians), but several Commonwealth countries replaced the British award with their own VC (cut from the same cannon) in the 1990s. Since then three Australian and one New Zealand VCs have been awarded making 18 in total. | • This article was amended on 19 March 2013 to clarify the following: Fourteen servicemen have been awarded the Victoria Cross by the British honours system since the second world war (10 from the British army, and four Australians), but several Commonwealth countries replaced the British award with their own VC (cut from the same cannon) in the 1990s. Since then three Australian and one New Zealand VCs have been awarded making 18 in total. |
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