Channel 5 - Victoria Cross Heroes (Ch5) (2006)

"The most democratic and at the same time the most exclusive all orders of chivalry - the most enviable order of the Victoria Cross." – Edward VIII (when Prince of Wales)
The Victoria Cross is Britain's most prestigious military honour, awarded for valour in the presence of the enemy. From the Crimea to Iraq, it has been bestowed only 1,355 times, proving the recipients' bravery beyond all doubt - always facing mortal danger, sometimes a certain death.
Seventy years after that statement, Edward's great nephew, HRH Prince Charles, introduces the definitive history and a landmark series to commemorate and celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Victoria Cross. It pays fitting tribute to the men who have been awarded the highest medal for gallantry. As President of the VC and GC Association and with the Royal Family's long connection with Britain's armed forces, the Prince believes the medal has a particular resonance and significance.
'Victoria Cross Heroes' is the story of ordinary men who have performed extraordinary acts of bravery, from the Crimea through to Iraq, often sacrificing their lives so that others might live. With revealing personal testimony from VC holders and their families, archive footage and dramatic reconstructions, 'Victoria Cross Heroes' brings to life true stories of breathtaking acts of fighting prowess and self sacrifice.
True courage is something that many aspire to but few achieve. Victoria Cross Heroes is the story of ordinary people who performed extraordinary acts of bravery. Those who receive the VC, for valour as the inscription states so simply and so powerfully, are real heroes who more often that not sacrificed their lives in order that others survived. Today there are only 12 living holders and their numbers are dwindling.
This 3 x 1 hour series has been made by Empire Media Productions for Channel Five. It tells the incredible stories of some of the 1351 winners from the Crimea through to Iraq and the great conflicts of the 20th century in which British and Commonwealth forces have been involved.
'Victoria Cross Heroes' is a high-end specialist factual programme, made by experienced history programme makers. Its budget and ambition bring high production and editorial values to the screen. Each programme is based around the stories of 2 or 3 main VC holders and their actions, while the journey of the medal's evolution is told through fascinating archive materials and well structured interviews.
The films are a mixture of the personal testimony of holders and their families, never before seen archive footage and painstakingly accurate and visually stunning dramatic reconstruction.
The stories are as humbling as they are incredible: What made William McFadzean dive onto a smoldering box of grenades in Somme trench, saving 7 of his unit? Why did medical doctor Noel Chavasse tragically insist on returning to the front line to rescue more men after already winning one VC? And how did Private Johnson Beharry's belief that he would never die affect him? What was it that that made him repeatedly expose himself to enemy fire enabling him to rescue his commanding officer and 20 other men?
The essential question at the heart of the series is the thing that makes the VC so compelling, what goes through a person's head in this moment of truth? What makes one person act in valour and another turn away? What makes one person ignore personal safety while someone else runs for cover? And relevant to every person who watches, the nagging desire to know what they would do in the same position?
The stories are amazing, ranging from breathtaking acts of fighting prowess to astonishing moments of compassion and self sacrifice. The series is gripping, moving and visually spectacular. It puts the audience on that ship, in that trench in that place, to have them share in a moment of extreme jeopardy when one person's snap decision will make the difference between life and death.

Series Producer: Steven Clarke ; Written & Directed by Steven Clarke, Nicholas White, Mary McMurray ; An Empire Media Production for Five


1. THE EMPIRE
Programme One: 'WARS OF EMPIRE' centres upon the VCs of the 19th Century, from its hugely popular instigation by Victoria in 1856 after the Crimean war to the war that ended her era, the Boer war at the turn of the century. The Victoria Cross was immediately taken to heart, its winners becoming celebrities equivalent to the pop stars and footballers of now. It includes dramatic reconstructions of Rorke's Drift, from the Indian Mutiny and the Crimea.

2. THE GREAT WAR
'The Great War' tells the story of the VC through the first World War. Half of all VCs awarded to date were done so between 1914 and 1919. From the Western Front, through the Somme to Gallipoli, such was the variety of battle that every facet of human bravery was exposed. Stories featured include that of Noel Chavasse, one of only three men to win the VC twice, Boy Cornwell, the youngest recipient, and Billy Leefe-Robinson who shot down a Zeppelin over London to national acclaim.

3. THE MODERN AGE
'The Modern Age' brings the story of the VC up to date. From the air and sea battles of WWII, through Korea, Vietnam, the Falklands and the current Gulf War, British soldiers have been fighting every year for the last 60 years. And through these years the VC has been awarded less and less. Has the nature of battle changed so much that men are no longer faced with such danger, or has the attention around the VC become so great that the Generals are scared to award it?

4. SPECIAL FEATURES
THE ASHCROFT VC COLLECTION: Fascinating facts about the medal and exclusive access to the largest and most valuable collection of VCs in the world, carefully gathered by Lord Ashcroft, KCMG.
Extended and revealing interviews with five living VC holders: Johnson Beharry VC (Iraq 2004); Keith Payne VC (Vietnam 1969); Ram Bahadur Limbu VC (Indonesia 1965); William Speakman VC (Korea 1951); Lachhiman Gurung VC (Burma 1945).