Corporal Bryan Budd VC
Corporal Bryan Budd VC – Courage in the Face of the Enemy
Corporal Bryan James Budd, of the 3rd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment (3 PARA), was a soldier of exceptional bravery whose selfless actions in Afghanistan cost him his life—but saved others. He was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the British and Commonwealth armed forces, for two separate acts of extraordinary courage during combat operations in Helmand Province in 2006.
Bryan Budd was born on 16 July 1977 in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and grew up with a strong sense of duty and adventure. He joined the British Army in 1995, passing the notoriously tough P Company selection course to earn his place in The Parachute Regiment, one of the most elite infantry units in the British Army.
Over the course of his career, he served on several operational tours, including in Northern Ireland, Sierra Leone, Iraq, and eventually Afghanistan. He was known among his fellow soldiers as a dedicated professional, a strong leader, and a man who led from the front. His natural ability as a soldier saw him also serve as a Physical Training Instructor, and he later completed selection for the Pathfinder Platoon, an elite reconnaissance unit within the British Army’s 16 Air Assault Brigade.
In 2006, Bryan deployed with 3 PARA to Helmand Province during Operation Herrick 4, a period marked by intense and sustained fighting against Taliban insurgents. During this tour, he would distinguish himself in two separate engagements that demonstrated both outstanding leadership and almost unimaginable personal bravery.
The first incident occurred on 27 July 2006, during a firefight in Sangin. Budd led a fire team through a cornfield to outflank Taliban fighters who were pinning down British troops. During the assault, he came under extremely heavy fire but continued to lead the attack, inspiring those around him and contributing to the success of the mission. His quick thinking and decisive action under fire likely saved lives.
The second and final act of bravery took place on 20 August 2006, again near Sangin. While on patrol, Budd's section came under a sudden and sustained attack from a well-prepared enemy position. As his men became pinned down, Bryan, recognising the danger they were in, charged forward alone across open ground to assault the enemy. He was last seen moving towards their position, firing his weapon as he advanced.
His courageous action allowed the rest of his section to withdraw to safety. When his comrades returned to the scene, they found him mortally wounded, having been shot during the assault. Several enemy fighters had been killed, a testament to the ferocity and determination of his heroic and final stand.
For these actions, Corporal Bryan Budd was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross, with his citation noting his "repeated extreme gallantry and selfless leadership." The award was announced on 14 December 2006 and presented to his widow, by Queen Elizabeth II.
His family, friends, and comrades remember him not just as a brave soldier, but as a devoted husband and father.
Corporal Budd’s name lives on through numerous memorials, including the Parachute Regiment Chapel in York Minster, memorial plaques in Colchester and other locations, and through the lasting legacy of his example to future generations of soldiers.
He represents the highest standards of The Parachute Regiment and the British Army—courage, determination, and putting others before self. Corporal Bryan Budd VC will always be remembered as a true hero who gave his life so that others might live.
