Victoria Cross hero Sergeant Johnson Beharry has become a father for the first time, HELLO! Online can exclusively reveal. His wife Mallissa has given birth to their son Ayden Gideon Beharry, who was born at 9.30pm on 5 August weighing 7lb 1oz. "Mother and baby are doing well," said Jaine J Brent, Johnson's media manager.
Their new addition arrived four months after the couple exclusively revealed the pregnancy to HELLO! magazine as they celebrated their wedding at London’s Old Marylebone Hotel. War hero Johnson and his bride both received letters of congratulations from the Queen and the Prince of Wales in the days after their wedding.
Johnson was awarded the Victoria Cross in 2005, becoming the first living recipient of the prestigious medal in more than 30 years. He had twice risked his life to save comrades from his unit, the 1st Battalion, The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment, in two separate enemy attacks in Iraq.
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration for valour in the British Armed Forces.He met Malissa in October 2012 and they soon discovered they were expecting their first child. "It’s a little sooner than planned but we are over the moon," he told HELLO! at the time.
"Malissa and I felt strongly that it was important to marry before our baby arrives. I didn’t grow up with a mum and dad who were together, and all my life I’ve said that I don’t want my child to say the same, and that I want them to know they’ve got that solid foundation."
"From the moment that I met Malissa, I didn’t want to be apart from her," he added. "It’s like we’ve known each other forever and I’m excited about this new chapter in our lives. We have so much to celebrate."