21 Facts About Joshua Leakey

Colour Sergeant Joshua Mark Leakey was born on 1988 and is a British soldier currently serving in the Parachute Regiment.

Joshua Leakey was the only living British soldier to be awarded the Victoria Cross for the War in Afghanistan and the last person to receive it from Queen Elizabeth II.

Joshua Leakey is the son of retired RAF officer and former director of the Armed Forces Christian Union, Air Commodore Mark Leakey, and his wife Rosemary, an occupational therapist.

Joshua Leakey was educated at Witham Hall preparatory school and, from 1999 to 2006, Christ's Hospital, a private school in Horsham, West Sussex.

Joshua Leakey began a degree in military history at the University of Kent but dropped out during the first term to join the military.

Joshua Leakey is the second member of his family to be awarded the Victoria Cross.

Joshua Leakey joined the British Army in 2007 and was posted to the 1st Battalion, Parachute Regiment.

Joshua Leakey served three tours of duty in Afghanistan during Operation Herrick: in 2009,2011 and 2013.

The actions for which Joshua Leakey was awarded the Victoria Cross occurred on 22 August 2013 in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.

Joshua Leakey's helicopter had landed on a hill near the village and he, with three other paratroopers and an Afghan soldier, were to provide fire support for the main segment of the patrol.

Joshua Leakey ran up the hill to assess the seriousness of the attack and came to the conclusion that urgent action was needed.

Joshua Leakey moved one to a better position to fire at the attacking Taliban even though he was under constant, accurate fire.

Joshua Leakey's actions inspired other soldiers to join in the fight back.

Joshua Leakey then ran once more through heavy fire to retrieve a second machine gun, position it in a suitable site, and then manned it to fire at the Taliban.

Joshua Leakey then returned to the injured American officer and oversaw his medical evacuation.

Under fire yet undeterred by the very clear and present danger, Lance Corporal Joshua Leakey ran across the exposed slope of the hill three times to initiate casualty evacuation, re-site machine guns and return fire.

Joshua Leakey's actions proved the turning point, inspiring his comrades to fight back with renewed ferocity.

On 26 February 2015, Joshua Leakey was awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest military decoration awarded for valour in the United Kingdom.

Joshua Leakey is a recipient of the Operational Service Medal for Afghanistan.

Joshua Leakey has received the City of London's highest honour to become a Freeman of the city.

Between May and December 2013, Lance Corporal Joshua Leakey was deployed in Afghanistan as a member of a Task Force conducting operations to disrupt insurgent safe-havens and protect the main operating base in Helmand province.