Lance Corporal Joshua Leakey, 27, showed “complete disregard” for his own safety during a combined UK/US assault on a Taliban stronghold in Afghanistan.
He ignored the “snap and crack” of enemy bullets ricochetting round him as he took on 20 fighters armed with machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades.
“The only thing I was really scared of was letting my cap badge down”
Lance Corporal Joshua Leakey
Only three Brits have won the VC in Afghanistan – and Joshua is the first one to live to tell the tale. Both other medals were awarded posthumously.
But yesterday he remembered his second cousin twice removed, Sergeant Nigel Gray Leakey, who also won the award posthumously for gallantry in North Africa during the Second World War.
Proud Joshua said: “He’s from my dad’s side of the family – they are all very military-orientated. There’s been someone in the military from every generation that I know of.”
His own heroics came during August 2013 on his third tour of Afghanistan with 1 Para.
Despite being the most junior member of the group he took control of the situation, giving first aid to a wounded US Marine Corps captain and beginning casualty evacuation.
Eleven insurgents were killed and four wounded during the battle.
Modestly, he said: “The only thing I was really scared of was letting my cap badge down. That’s why I joined the Army – to be a Paratrooper.”
Premier David Cameron said Joshua risked his life to turn the battle and save the lives of his comrades despite an intensity of fire that would have frozen most people to the spot.
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