Victoria Cross: 'Exceptional devotion to duty'

Lance Corporal James Ashworth died last year in Afghanistan at the age of 23. He is to be awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest award it is possible to win for bravery in action. To get it you must show conspicuous bravery, a pre-eminent act of valour or self sacrifice. Just 13 Victoria Crosses have been handed out since the Second World War.

Major Richard Streatfeild said: "The Victoria Cross represents an exceptional devotion to duty and something we can all be proud of."

He added: "It will mean the most to his family who have been left with an irreplaceable hole".

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Saturday 16 March 2013.