Writes Kabir B. (L6th)
This half-term’s lecture series opened with a talk from Warrant Officer Dr Johnson Beharry VC on his life of service and dedication through his experiences both as a member of the armed forces, and through his wider life.
Courage, selflessness, and tenacity are values we are all taught to aspire to, but few exemplify these qualities as WO1 Beharry does. The lecture started with WO1 Beharry talking about his early life in Grenada: despite severe adversity due to the circumstances of his childhood, Beharry proved that these virtues were always present in him: he took control of his life from a very young age, and refused to be confined by the challenges he faced. From there, he went on to show us again how he continued to exemplify excellence; he worked constantly to ensure he could support both his grandmother and himself, while also saving money so that he could travel to England in search of greater opportunities.
The talk then shifted to his early life in England; it was in no way a straightforward path from this point to the Army, but again WO1 Beharry proved that with determination and a strong moral compass, it is possible to turn one’s life around: he chose to leave behind a lifestyle he had found himself within, in exchange for a far more difficult life, but ultimately a life he wanted for himself. Despite initial setbacks in his efforts to join the Army, he persevered, ultimately completing a 6 month training course in a mere 6 weeks, and gaining acceptance into His Majesty’s Armed Forces through the Princess of Wales’ Royal Regiment. Tenacity and virtue are incredibly valuable, and we all heard just how far in life they can get you.
From here, his efforts came to fruition, being deployed to Kosovo, Northern Ireland, and finally Iraq, where he earned his Victoria Cross. Despite the immense physical toll he endured from his tour in Iraq, he continued to serve there, ultimately saving the lives of fellow soldiers on multiple occasions while serving in Iraq, despite sustaining injuries each time that for others would have spelt an end to active duty. His sense of service, and dedication to his comrades, never faltered, and these values are ones we can all aspire to embody.
The lecture, however, did not end there: upon his return home, WO1 Beharry struggled immensely with issues associated with his recovery from the injuries he sustained, but despite this he remains in the Household Division, and has established a charity that aids first-time offenders; his service continues in all senses of the word, and his perseverance through adversity is an example to us all.
While none of us can ever truly understand the experiences WO1 Beharry endured, we can learn valuable lessons: values and morals hold incredible weight, and in life, the right way of doing things will always reward us more than the easy way, and ultimately, we are the final arbiters of our own fate. We are incredibly fortunate to have been able to attend such a lecture, and are immensely grateful to WO1 Beharry for sharing his time and story; he is an inspiration to us all.
