James Ashworth Lance Corporal James Thomas Duane Ashworth VC ( 26 May 1989 – 13 June 2012 ) was a British 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 . He was killed in Afghanistan on 13 June 2012 as he led his fire team in an attack on an enemy - held compound . The award was gazetted on Friday 22 March 2013 , having been confirmed by the British Army earlier in the week . Ashworth is only the 14th recipient of the award since the end of the Second World War . Early life . Ashworth lived and grew up in Corby , Northamptonshire , where he attended Lodge Park Technology College . A keen sportsman , he represented his school at both football and basketball . In 2006 , aged 17 , he joined the British Army following his father who had previously served in the Grenadier Guards . Ashworth trained at the Infantry Training Centre in Catterick before joining Nijmegen Company Grenadier Guards and a posting to ceremonial duties in London . He was identified as being capable of becoming a paratrooper and was assigned to the Guards ' Parachute Platoon , which is part of 3rd Battalion , Parachute Regiment . In his three years in the platoon , he took part in Operation Herrick 8 and was deployed to exercises overseas on three occasions . He was deployed to Canada before joining the Reconnaissance Platoon for Operation Herrick 16 . Death . On 13 June 2012 , Ashworth was serving as part of the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards . He was on a patrol in the Nahri Saraj District of Helmand Province , Afghanistan . He was leading a fire - team , clearing out compounds , when his team came under fire from Taliban armed with rifles and rocket - propelled grenades from several mud huts . Ashworth charged the huts , providing cover for his team who followed in single file behind him . After his fire - team took out most of the insurgents , Ashworth pursued the final remaining member . He crawled forward under cover of a low wall while his team provided covering fire and acted as a diversion . When he got within of the enemy , he was killed as he attempted to throw a grenade . Captain Mike Dobbin ( Ashworth ' s officer in charge ) , who was awarded the Military Cross for courage on the same day , said of Ashworth , " His professionalism under pressure and ability to remain calm in what was a chaotic situation is testament to his character . L / Cpl Ashworth was a pleasure to command and I will sorely miss his calming influence on the battlefield . Softly spoken , he stepped up to every task thrown in his direction . " After his death , his body was taken to Camp Bastion and was then repatriated to the United Kingdom . On 16 March 2013 , British media reported that Ashworth was to be posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for bravery and this was confirmed by the Ministry of Defence on 18 March 2013 . His citation was read out at the Grenadier Guard barracks in Aldershot . He was only the second person to be awarded the medal during the Taliban insurgency , after Bryan Budd for his actions in 2006 . Ashworth is the 14th person to be awarded the Victoria Cross since the end of the Second World War . The Victoria Cross was first awarded for actions in the Crimean War of 1854 – 55 , and is the highest British military award for bravery . Personal life . Ashworth played football both for his regiment , and for a local team near his home . He was a supporter of Tottenham Hotspur . He has two sisters and two brothers , one of whom is also a soldier .