22 MAY 2026 – NATIONAL ARMY MUSEUM UPDATE ON THE LORD ASHCROFT MEDAL COLLECTION DISPLAY.
On the 15th anniversary of the end of the war in Iraq, the National Army Museum is pleased to announce that a Warrior Infantry Fighting Vehicle will go 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.
Inside the Museum, from Tuesday 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 May 1, 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 June 11, 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 proud to give visitors the rare opportunity to see this iconic Warrior Infantry Fighting Vehicle up close in Chelsea. Following extensive research by Army specialists, we believe this to be the Warrior Infantry Fighting vehicle associated with one of the combat actions that led to Johnson Beharry being awarded a Victoria Cross for his conspicuous valour in Iraq in 2004,making this an especially powerful and moving moment in the vehicle’s history.“We are equally proud to share the first objects from Lord Ashcroft’s Medal Collection of Victoria Crosses and George Crosses to go on display at the National Army Museum, including Johnson Beharry’s Victoria Cross, campaign medals and the helmet he wore during one of the actions for which he received the award. Together, these objects tell an extraordinary story of courage, leadership and modern Army service.”
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
Friday 12 June 2026
18:00 – 20:00
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, this 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.
Tickets are £30 (£26 for National Army Museum members) and available to book here:
https://www.nam.ac.uk/whats-on/stories-valour-victoria-cross-and-george-cross
