Bryan Budd Bryan James Budd VC ( 16 July 1977 – 20 August 2006 ) was a Northern Irish recipient of the Victoria Cross , the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces . Budd was a corporal in the 3rd Battalion , the Parachute Regiment ( 3 PARA ) of the British Army . He was killed while on active service during Operation Herrick in Afghanistan . Budd died of injuries sustained during a fire fight with Taliban forces in Sangin , Helmand Province , from a bullet probably fired from a NATO weapon . The incident occurred whilst he was on a routine patrol close to the District Centre . He was the 20th UK serviceman to die in Afghanistan since the start of operations in November 2001 . On 14 December 2006 , it was announced by the Ministry of Defence that Budd would be posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross , only the 13th award of the medal since the end of the Second World War . Early life . Born in Belfast together with twin sister Tracy , Budd had been in the British Army for ten years , serving with the elite Pathfinder Platoon , which carries out reconnaissance deep behind enemy lines . As part of the Pathfinders , he served in many operational theatres including the former Yugoslavia , Sierra Leone , Afghanistan and Iraq . In May 2002 , Budd passed his section commander ' s battle course with distinction , and was due to be promoted to platoon Sergeant . Cpl Budd was a qualified combat survival instructor , rock climber and free - fall parachutist . He was posted to the Army Foundation College in Harrogate in 2004 , where he trained young soldiers . In June 2006 , Budd joined A Company , 3 PARA as part of the 3 , 600 - strong British task force . Posted to Afghanistan , A Company , 3 PARA was based in the southern Afghanistan town of Sangin in Helmand Province . Due to come home on 25 August 2006 , Budd was killed on 20 August defending his section against heavy Taliban attack outside Sangin , allowing the section to return to safety . His body was recovered an hour later , and he was confirmed dead . Budd ' s commanding officer , Lieutenant Colonel Stuart Tootal , described Budd at the time of his death as " an outstanding leader " who had a professional manner " that inspired confidence in all that worked with him " . Tootal said : " " Bryan died doing the job he loved , leading his men from the front , where he always was . He was proud to call himself a paratrooper and we were proud to stand beside him . " " On 14 December 2006 , the Ministry of Defence confirmed the award of the Victoria Cross , the first posthumous VC awarded since the Falklands conflict . His widow , Lorena , collected the VC from Buckingham Palace on 7 March 2007 . A new Physical and Recreational Training Centre at Colchester Garrison was named the Corporal Budd VC Gymnasium on its opening on 4 July 2008 . First cited incident . In the first incident , on 27 July , Corporal Budd ' s section was on a patrol when they identified and engaged two enemy gunmen on the roof of a building in the centre of Sangin . Without regard for his own safety , Corporal Budd led an assault where the enemy fire was heaviest . His gallant action allowed a wounded soldier to be evacuated to safety where he subsequently received life - saving treatment . Death . On 20 August 2006 , A Company , 3 PARA was located in the southern Afghanistan town of Sangin . Cpl Budd and his platoon were ordered to hold a small , isolated coalition outpost - dubbed a platoon house - to protect engineers blowing holes in a compound 500 metres away . The site was subject to almost daily Taliban onslaught for months . On the day , there were three sections on patrol , a total of 24 men , spread out in a head - high cornfield around the compound . Budd spotted four Taliban approaching , at a distance of 50 metres . With hand signals , Budd led his section in a flanking manoeuvre round to the cornfield ' s outskirts to try to cut them off , but they were spotted and the Taliban opened fire on the troops . A further group of Taliban opened up fire from a wall further back . The British soldiers took heavy fire , kneeling or lying down trying to take cover . One soldier received a bullet in the shoulder , and another was shot in the nose . Realising his section were taking heavy fire and were likely to be killed , Budd got up and rushed straight through the corn in the direction of the Taliban , now just 20 metres away . Budd opened up on them in fully automatic mode with his rifle , and contact was immediately lost , but the Taliban fire lessened and allowed the rest of his section to withdraw back to safety so the casualties could be treated . After withdrawal , Budd was declared missing in action and most of A Company was sent back to find him . Apache and Harrier air support was called in to beat the Taliban back . An hour later , Budd was found beside three dead Taliban . Cpl Andy Waddington ' s section of men pushed forward through the cornfield and discovered and extracted Budd , who was badly wounded and had no pulse . Budd was declared dead on arrival at the platoon house . His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Parachute Regiment and Airborne Forces Museum at the Imperial War Museum Duxford , Cambridgeshire , in England . Personal life . Budd was married to Lorena Budd , a clerk in 5 Regiment , Royal Artillery at Catterick , North Yorkshire . The couple had two daughters , Isabelle ( born 2004 ) , and Imogen , born a month after Budd died in Afghanistan . In addition to his twin sister , he also had a brother . Awards . Budd had been awarded a number of military decoration s and service medals . These include :