A Very Special Meeting
Saturday the 12th April 2025, saw a very special meeting take place, at the Franklin Rooms, Gillingham, Kent.
Tonight marks a truly exceptional occasion for our Lodge. We are incredibly honored to welcome two distinguished guests whose presence elevates this meeting to a level of profound significance. First, we have the privilege of hosting WBro John Beharry VC, a recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy. His presence alone is a testament to unwavering courage and selfless service.
Further enhancing this momentous evening is the participation of WBro Mark Smith APGM, who will be enlightening us with an insightful presentation on the exacting criteria and extraordinary circumstances that lead to the awarding of the Victoria Cross. WBro Smith’s talk was informative and deeply moving, offering us a rare glimpse into the rigorous standards of valor and sacrifice that define this most exceptional honor.
The stories and insights shared this evening undoubtedly will resonate long after the meeting concludes.
About The MEETING
The Meeting took a number of months to plan, with our Past Master WBro Steve Simmons having the idea of inviting Worshipful Brother Mark Smith, an Assistant Provincial Grnad Master in the Province of East Kent, and to most, a familiar face on the Antiques Roadshow.
The meeting started in the usual way, guests and visitors were welcomed by our Master, Kevin Stones. Under the directioon of our Director of Ceremonies, Graham Cottington, we all officially welcomed Mark and other Grand Offices in the usual masonic tradition.
This left Worshipful Brother Chris Budge to welcome Provincial Officers. That just left our Master to extend a special welcometo our two special guests. Worshipful Brother Mark Smith APGM Essex, and WBro Johnson Beharry VC. PPGStwd.
He then went After the usual masonic business of reading the minutes of the previous meeting, the main event was introduced, and Mark Smith took to the floor.
Acknowledged as a global expert on the Victoria Cross, Mark has authored five books on the Great War and contributed to numerous publications and magazines. As a member of both the Western Front Association and the Orders and Medals Research Society, he continues to shape the field of military history and medal research.
His live presentation, For Valour: The Story of the Victoria Cross, offers audiences a chance to delve into the origins of this prestigious award, dispel myths, and hear extraordinary stories of the brave men who have received Britain’s highest military honour.
Collector, Dealer, and Passionate Historian
Mark’s passion for military history began in 1983 when he started dealing in militaria in Islington, London. Over the years, he has built an extensive private collection, specialising not only in the Victoria Cross but also in flying clothing and RAF logbooks.
Mark immediately dispelled the myth that all Victoria Cross medals are made from Russian guns captured during the Crimean War is unlikely to be sustainable, research suggests. He went on to explain that it is most likely they are cast from Chinese Canons, so, addressing Johnson he said, “Your Medal is Made in China”, laughter broke out.
The talk continued, with stories of valour, bravery and courage, men putting themselves at the risk of death for their best friends.
Men acting out of frustration, because something needed to be done, and they were the only ones who could do it. The Piper, who crossed no man’s land not once, not twice but seven times, before being shot by the Germans, rescuing his friends and colleagues in the process.
A REAL HERO
WBro John Beharry VC, PPGStwd
Born in Grenada in 1979, Johnson was one of eight children – living in a two-bedroom hut, surviving on rice and beans, and walking three miles barefoot to school. At just 13 he left school to work as a labourer. By 1999, aged 20, he’d scraped together the airfare for England and moved to West London to escape poverty and make a better life for himself.
Actions in Iraq
Beharry’s medal group as of 2005
On 1 May 2004, Beharry was driving a Warrior Tracked Armoured Vehicle that had been called to the assistance of a foot patrol caught in a series of ambushes. The Warrior was hit by multiple rocket propelled grenades, causing damage and resulting in the loss of radio communications. The platoon commander, the vehicle’s gunner and a number of other soldiers in the vehicle were injured. Due to damage to his periscope optics, Beharry was forced to open his hatch to steer his vehicle, exposing his face and head to withering small arms fire. Beharry drove the disabled Warrior through the ambush, taking his own crew and leading five other Warriors to safety. He then extracted his wounded comrades from the vehicle, all the time exposed to further enemy fire. He was cited on this occasion for “valour of the highest order”.
While back on duty on 11 June 2004, Beharry was again driving the lead Warrior of his platoon through Al Amarah when the vehicle was ambushed. A rocket propelled grenade hit the vehicle six inches from Beharry’s head, and he received serious shrapnel injuries to his face and brain. Other rockets then hit the vehicle, incapacitating his commander and injuring several of the crew. Despite his life-threatening injuries, Beharry retained control of his vehicle and drove it out of the ambush area before losing consciousness. He required brain surgery for his head injuries, and he was still recovering in March 2005 when he was awarded the Victoria Cross.
VC citation and first living recipient since the Vietnam War
The full citation was published in a supplement to the London Gazette of 18 March 2005 and commented, “Private Beharry carried out two individual acts of great heroism by which he saved the lives of his comrades. Both were in direct face of the enemy, under intense fire, at great personal risk to himself (one leading to him sustaining very serious injuries)… Beharry displayed repeated extreme gallantry and unquestioned valour, despite intense direct attacks, personal injury and damage to his vehicle in the face of relentless enemy action.”
Beharry became the first Victoria Cross recipient since the posthumous awards to Lieutenant Colonel H. Jones and Sergeant Ian John McKay for service in the Falklands War in 1982. He was the first living recipient of the VC since Keith Payne and Rayene Stewart Simpson, both Australian, for actions in Vietnam in 1969, and the first living recipient of the VC in the British Army since Rambahadur Limbu, a Gurkha, in the Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation in 1965. At the time of his award, he was one of only ten living recipients of the VC.
A FANTASTIC MEETING
Overall, it was a fantastic meeting, and one that I have no doubt many will never forget. The Talk, The Meeting with Johnson, a fellow Brother, and the Festive Board after was so memerable, “one of the best meetings I have attended” said one. “What a meeting” said another.
On behalf of the lodge and the Worshipful Master, we thank WBro Mark Smith and WBro Johnson Beharry VC and all those that made it such a special meeting.
Credit: UK MOD © Crown copyright 2021.
BRAVE, courageous, GALLANT
To win a Victoria Cross (VC), a person must perform an act of extreme bravery in the presence of the enemy, demonstrating conspicuous gallantry, a daring act of valor or self-sacrifice, or extreme devotion to duty. The act must be witnessed by multiple individuals and the award is given for actions under direct enemy fire
A NIGHT WE WILL NEVER FORGET