‘BECOMING A HUSBAND AND A PARENT HAS HELPED ME TO HEAL'

HERO SOLDIER JOHNSON BEHARRY AND WIFE MALLISSA EXCLUSIVELY SHARE THE STORY OF SON AMARI’S BIRTH WITH OK! AND EXPLAIN HOW HAVING A FAMILY HELPED HIM OVERCOME THE TRAUMA OF HIS WAR EXPERIENCES

- SARAH ARNOLD

Tenderly cradling his newborn baby son Amari with his family at his side, Victoria Cross hero Johnson Beharry breaks into a smile with wife Mallissa, telling OK!, “Our children are our greatest achievement.”

It’s clear that the soldier is a doting father to 11-week-old Amari, their eldest son Ayden – who celebrated his eighth birthday during the photoshoot – and daughter Aniyah, four.

Johnson, 42, who suffered life-changing injuries during his tour of Iraq, said, “When I was injured I didn’t know if I would live but fatherhood has taught me the meaning of unconditional love and it has healed me.

“Normally, people think of babies as keeping you up at night but it was the opposite for me. I didn’t used to sleep as I suffer daily pain, flashbacks and nightmares after what happened to me in Iraq. Becoming a dad has led me to find a sense of inner peace. I can finally sleep now.”

While on duty in Iraq in 2004, Colour Sergeant Johnson risked his life twice to save members of his unit of the 1st Battalion, Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment after separate ambushes.

Johnson, who was born in Grenada, was given just a 1% chance of surviving after receiving serious shrapnel wounds to his head and body. A titanium plate was fitted to his skull, he suffered brain injuries and his spine was fused.

In 2005, the Queen awarded him the Victoria Cross – the highest military decoration for valour in the British and Commonwealth armed forces. He was the first living recipient in 36 years. Here, Johnson and Mallissa, 36, open up about how their children changed their lives and share details of a film that is being made about his remarkable life...