Skip to main contentSkip to footer

Royals pay tribute to Victoria Cross and George Cross heroes


September 9, 2008
Share this:

Among those invited to a royal reception at St James's Palace in London were Lance-Corporal Johnson Beharry, decorated for twice saving members of his unit from ambushes in Iraq four years ago, and Margaret Purves, who rescued a boy scout and his leader from the sea aged 14 in 1949.

Also among the day's heroes were Henry Flintoff, who at the age of 13 rescued a farmer from a bull in 1944, and Dr Dick Butson, honoured for a 1947 Antarctic rescue operation.

Despite their courage some of Prince Charles' guests apparently find being in the spotlight at the biennial event a little nervewracking, though.

Arriving with Corporal Willie Apiata VC, a New Zealand SAS man recently recognised for rescuing a comrade under fire in Afghanistan, 29-year-old Johnson joked: "It's good to have a new boy so he can take some of the pressure off me."

Photo: © Alphapress.com
Charles and Camilla presided over a meeting of VC and GC holders at the reception at St James's Palace Photo: © PA
Photo: © Alphapress.com
The elite group's former "new boy", Johnson, jokes he's happy to hand over the title to Corporal Willie Apiata (left), who was awarded a VC recently Photo: © Rex

Sign up to HELLO! Daily for all the latest and best royal coverage

By entering your details, you are agreeing to HELLO! Magazine User Data Protection Policy. You can unsubscribe at any time. For more information, please click here.

More Royalty

See more