Joshua Leakey

Colour Sergeant Joshua Mark Leakey (born 1988) is a British soldier currently serving in the Parachute Regiment. In 2015, Leakey was awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest military decoration for valour in the British and Commonwealth armed forces, for his involvement in a joint UK–US raid in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, on 22 August 2013. He 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.

Early life and family Leakey was born in 1988 in Tampa, Florida, US. He 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. He has a younger brother Ben.

Leakey was educated at Witham Hall preparatory school and, from 1999 to 2006, Christ's Hospital, a private school in Horsham, West Sussex. He began a degree in military history at the University of Kent but dropped out during the first term to join the army.

He is the second member of his family to be awarded the Victoria Cross. His second cousin twice removed, Nigel Leakey, was posthumously awarded the medal during the Second World War. Lieutenant General David Leakey, the former Black Rod and former senior British Army officer, is the son of Nigel's brother Major General Rea Leakey.

Military career Leakey joined the British Army in 2007 and was subsequently posted to the 1st Battalion, Parachute Regiment. He served three tours of duty in Afghanistan during Operation Herrick: in 2009, 2011 and 2013.

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

Honours and decorations

On 26 February 2015, Leakey was awarded the Victoria Cross (VC), the highest military decoration awarded for valour in the United Kingdom. He is a recipient of the Operational Service Medal for Afghanistan. Leakey has received the City of London's highest honour to become a Freeman of the city.

The official VC citation reads: