Johnson Beharry VC reunited with Warrior Infantry Fighting Vehicle at the National Army Museum

Friday, 22 May 2026

On the 15th anniversary of the end of the war in Iraq, a Warrior Infantry Fighting Vehicle will be on free public display outside the National Army Museum from Tuesday, 2 June to Sunday, 14 June 2026. Recently decommissioned after more than 40 years of Army service, the vehicle has been gifted to the Museum by the British Army.

Research by Army experts has confirmed this Warrior was present during operations in Iraq in 2004 and was almost certainly the vehicle in which then-Private Johnson Beharry earned the Victoria Cross for two separate acts of bravery under sustained enemy attack. In a remarkable reunion, WO1 Johnson Beharry VC will come face to face with the vehicle for the first time since the actions for which he received Britain’s highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy.

For almost four decades, Warrior armoured vehicles carried British soldiers into conflicts around the world. Fast, heavily armed and strongly protected, Warrior earned the trust of generations of soldiers and saved lives on operations from the Gulf to Afghanistan. 

This Warrior served in Iraq in 2003 with 1st Battalion, The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment, before most recently deploying to Estonia as part of Nato’s forward defence on the Alliance’s eastern flank.

Medals on display

Inside the building, from 2 June, visitors will also be able to see the first objects from Lord Ashcroft’s collection of Victoria Crosses and George Crosses to go on display at the National Army Museum, including the Victoria Cross awarded to WO1 Johnson Beharry VC alongside the helmet he wore during one of the actions for which he received the award.

Beharry became the first living British soldier in 35 years to be awarded the Victoria Cross for his heroic actions in saving the lives of his comrades during ambushes in Iraq. On 1 May 2004, after his platoon commander was wounded in an attack, Beharry took control of a Warrior Infantry Fighting Vehicle. Despite being severely injured, he led his patrol to safety. He managed to escape from the burning vehicle and carried his wounded colleagues to safety, all while under heavy machine-gun fire from the enemy.

In a second ambush on 11 June 2004, Beharry sustained a severe head injury when a rocket-propelled grenade detonated just six inches from his head. Nevertheless, he drove his vehicle out of danger and saved the lives of those around him before losing consciousness.

Displayed alongside the Victoria Cross, Beharry’s Iraq Medal and Kosovo Medal place his gallantry within the broader context of modern British military operations, reflecting his service across multiple deployments. Together with the damaged helmet he wore during the attack, the objects provide a rare and powerful human connection to the realities of modern conflict.

The display has been made possible by the generous support of Lord Ashcroft KCMG PC.

This remarkable opportunity to view the Warrior marks the beginning of a wider programme in June 2026 exploring the modern British Army, with further announcements, events and public activity to be revealed in the coming weeks.

Justin Maciejewski, the Director of the National Army Museum, said:

'As custodians of the Army’s national collection, we are honoured to give our visitors the rare opportunity to see this iconic Warrior Infantry Fighting Vehicle up close in Chelsea.

'We are also immensely proud to showcase Johnson Beharry’s remarkable actions through objects and medals which tell an extraordinary story of courage, leadership and service. We are grateful to Lord Ashcroft for enabling us to share them with the public.'

Lord Ashcroft said:

'Warrant Officer Johnson Beharry is a modern-day hero, a truly deserving recipient of the Victoria Cross for his outstanding and sustained gallantry in the presence of the enemy.

'I am delighted that Warrant Officer Beharry is being reunited with his Warrior Infantry Fighting Vehicle and equally delighted that his medal group will soon be on public display at the National Army Museum.'

Stories of Valour: Victoria Cross and George Cross

• Date: Friday, 12 June 2026
• Time: 6.00pm – 8.00pm
• Price: £30.00 (£26.00 for Members of the National Army Museum)

Tickets are on sale today for our first event to mark the Museum as the new home of Lord Ashcroft’s collection of Victoria Crosses and George Crosses. The evening offers a unique opportunity to hear from recipients of these awards first-hand.

Hosted by Museum director Brigadier (Retd) Justin Maciejewski DSO MBE, who has commanded soldiers on operations, witnessed courage in action and has recommended soldiers for public recognition, Johnson Beharry VC COG, Chris Finney GC and Dom Troulan GC QGM will explore what it means to be a Victoria Cross and George Cross recipient, and the remarkable stories behind their citations.

This evening event is in partnership with the VC and GC Association, which represents all living holders of the Victoria Cross, awarded to military personnel, and the George Cross, which is awarded to civilians and military personnel. The work of the Association itself, since it was formed in 1956, will also be discussed, from supporting national commemorations, advising institutions including the Ministry of Defence and the Royal Household, to inspiring younger generations.

Book tickets online