Victoria Cross for Lance Corporal Leakey
The UK’s Daily Mail reports that Queen of England has presented the Victoria Cross to Lance Corporal Joshua Leakey of the 1st Para. The Queen remarked that she doesn’t award many of the Victoria Crosses, but Joshua Leakey’s cousin, Nigel Leakey, was also awarded one 70 years ago. Despite the fact that three of the awards have been issued for the war in Afghanistan, Leakey is the only one of the group to survive his ordeal;
In 2013, he braved heavy gunfire from 20 Taliban insurgents in Helmand to rush to the aid of a wounded US Marine [Captain Brandon Bocian].
He also took control of a machine gun post to begin the fightback, then ran down a barren hillside, dodging a hail of bullets, picked up another machine gun and continued the battle in which 11 insurgents were killed and four wounded.
According to the official citation, L/Cpl Leakey, who is single and from Hampshire, showed ‘complete disregard for his own safety’ as his unit came under attack for around an hour.
His cousin, Nigel Leakey, was awarded the Victoria Cross posthumously for his actions in the Ethiopia Campaign, according to Wiki;
On 19 May 1941, in World War II, at Kolito, Abyssinia (now Ethiopia), when the Allied forces had made a bridgehead against the strong Italian opposition, the enemy made a sudden counterattack with both light and medium tanks. In the face of withering fire, Sergeant Leakey leaped on top of one of the tanks, wrenched open the turret and shot all the crew except the driver, whom he forced to drive the tank to cover. Along with three others, he tried to repeat this with another tank, but just as he opened the turret, he was killed.
Category: Real Soldiers
Good stuff
The Victoria Cross: “It is cast from the metal of Russian guns captured at the siege of Sevastopol during the Crimean War.” And fu@k you Putin- again.
Congrats Lance Corporal! Nice to have the big boss recognize your sacrifice.
I’m curious though. Wasn’t he presented the award a few months back already?
The story was covered here in February but the Queenie presented it to him yesterday. I suppose it’s like our MOH recipients who are named and later receive the medal at the White House. Plus, the earlier story about this trooper didn’t mention his cousin in WW II.
Thanks. Guess it would be a good idea to read the friggin’ story!
I guess uncommon valor runs in the family.
Kudos, Lance Corporal.
Balls. Large, studly, ice cold brass balls run in that family.
Either large brass balls or a complete and utter disregard for their own survival. I think brass ball is more likely.
LC Leakey truly lives up to 1st Para’s motto:Utrinque Paratus….and he was.