Mother tells of pride in ‘brave’ son awarded Victoria Cross

THE MOTHER of a British soldier who died while protecting his comrades in a battle with Taliban fighters in Afghanistan has told of her pride after accepting his posthumous Victoria Cross (VC).
By The Newsroom
Published 22nd May 2013, 00:08 BST

Kerry Ashworth, 44, received the VC from the Queen on behalf of her son, Lance Corporal James Ashworth, of 1st Battalion The Grenadier Guards, in a private ceremony at Buckingham Palace yesterday.

Mrs Ashworth, from Corby, Northamptonshire, was accompanied at the ceremony by L/Cpl Ashworth’s brother, Corporal Coran Ashworth, a 22-year-old serving soldier.

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Talking about the moment she accepted the VC, she said: “There are no words that can describe the feeling – I am so very, very proud.

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

“When [the Queen] 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.

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

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“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, 23, died in June last year after braving enemy fire to throw his last grenade at a sniper who had his team pinned down.

His father, Duane, who was also a Grenadier Guard, said yesterday: “[James] was always selfless in everything he did, whether with his mates in the pub or in battle.”

L/Cpl Ashworth’s company commander, Captain Mike Dobbin, of the Grenadier Guards, was honoured with the Military Cross for bravery in Afghanistan.

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

Related topics:TalibanAfghanistan