Mother collects VC for son who died protecting comrades from Taliban

 
Mrs Kerry Ashworth who received the Victoria Cross conferred on her late son, Lance Corporal James Ashworth, at Buckingham Palace, with her other son Coran. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Tuesday May 21, 2013. See PA story ROYAL Investitures. Photo credit should read: Lewis Whyld/PA Wire
21 May 2013

The mother of a “supremely courageous and inspiring” British soldier who died as he protected the lives of his comrades in a battle with Taliban fighters in Afghanistan has spoken of her pride after accepting his posthumous Victoria Cross.

Kerry Ashworth, 44, said no words could describe her feelings after receiving the VC from the Queen in a private ceremony at Buckingham Palace on behalf of her son, 23-year-old Lance Corporal James Ashworth, of 1st Battalion The Grenadier Guards.

“There are no words that can describe the feeling - I am so very, very proud,” she said.

“There are no words that can describe how you feel when you are told that your son is the bravest of the brave.”

Mrs Ashworth, of Corby, Northamptonshire, said when the Queen had left the room after awarding the VC, the “tears just came.”

“When she left the room, the tears just came. I thought it was such an honour for us today as a family, for his friends and for his girlfriend, “ she said.

“For us to receive this is a recognition of the really hard job that he did over there.

“James has gone but he will never be forgotten, he is part of the regimental history, he is part of history. He will never, ever be forgotten and his memory will go on forever.”

L/Cpl Ashworth died on June 13 last year after crawling along ground that was being peppered with bullets to throw his last grenade at a sniper who had his team pinned down.

The citation for his VC said: “Despite the ferocity of the insurgent’s resistance, Ashworth refused to be beaten.

“His total disregard for his own safety in ensuring that the last grenade was posted accurately was the gallant last action of a soldier who had willingly placed himself in the line of fire on numerous occasions earlier in the attack.

“This supremely courageous and inspiring action deserves the highest recognition.”

The award - the country’s highest award for bravery in the face of enemy attack - is only the second VC to be awarded to a soldier from the UK from the 12-year conflict in Afghanistan.

The VC was also awarded to Corporal Bryan Budd of 3 Para, who died fighting the Taliban in 2006.

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