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Widow collects hero soldier's VC Widow collects hero soldier's VC
(about 5 hours later)
A soldier who died saving seven comrades in Afghanistan will be awarded the Victoria Cross, the military's highest accolade, on Wednesday. The widow of a soldier who died saving seven comrades has collected the first posthumous Victoria Cross to be awarded since the Falklands war.
Corporal Bryan Budd, 29, of Ripon, North Yorkshire, was killed when he single-handedly stormed a Taleban position in Afghanistan in August.Corporal Bryan Budd, 29, of Ripon, North Yorkshire, was killed when he single-handedly stormed a Taleban position in Afghanistan in August.
It is the first posthumous VC to be awarded since the Falklands war. Cpl Budd's widow, Lorena, 23, collected the honour from the Queen in a private ceremony at Buckingham Palace.
Cpl Budd's widow, Lorena, 23, will collect the honour from the Queen at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday. The Victoria Cross is the military's highest accolade.
A member of the 3rd Battalion the Parachute Regiment and originally from Scunthorpe, he was the 20th UK serviceman to die in Afghanistan since the start of operations in November 2001. Mrs Budd was joined by Cpl Budd's stepfather, Trevor Girdham, the paratrooper's sister Tracy and his brother Stephen.
'Highest sacrifice' 'Ultimate sacrifice'
His commanding officer, Lt Col Stuart Tootal, said at the time of his death he was a natural leader. A member of the 3rd Battalion the Parachute Regiment and originally from Scunthorpe, Cpl Budd was the 20th UK serviceman to die in Afghanistan since the start of operations in November 2001.
"Bryan died doing the job he loved, leading his men from the front - where he always was," he said. Mrs Budd, a clerk with the Royal Artillery, said: "The award of the Victoria Cross recognises his conspicuous gallantry, inspirational leadership and supreme valour.
Mrs Budd, a clerk with the Royal Artillery, said: "Bryan will always be remembered by me as a loving husband and father to our two beautiful daughters, Isabelle and Imogen. "Tragically, acting in the highest traditions of the Parachute Regiment, he made the ultimate sacrifice by laying down his life.
"The exceptional act of valour and the subsequent award of the Victoria Cross is representative of the sort of man Bryan was. "However, he did so doing the job he loved serving in the regiment that meant so much to him."
"He was a proud and passionate Parachute Regiment soldier and he was someone who was prepared to make the very highest sacrifice to save the lives of others."