@@keramidasnicolas2079 imma guess failing economy military thinking about coup need a large victory to improve public image falklands seem easy Was I right
I've watched this documentary 5-10 times over the years, and it still (literally) brings tears to my eyes. I thank mr. Cain and other heroes like him, from the bottom of my heart, for being born and raised in a free Europe... Thank You! R.I.P.
Watching this one for about the 8th time. I have to admit smoke gets in my eyes. And it gets incredibly difficult to swallow. As a former soldier, I have nothing but respect and admiration for these men.
To be fair what he is like in TG and GT is an act. Like how most TV personalities are, they're basically actors. To me he's a master in storytelling. His choice of words and his tone is just glorious, he's one of the rare greats of storytelling and presenting. What ppl don't want to know is that irl he's a very respectful and patriotic man. A good father too. Everyone who's close to him has told good stories abt how he is irl.
It was finding out that his father-in-law was a Victoria Cross recipient that got Jeremy interested in this subject. He later proposed to the people at his studio to do a series of programs about the men who fought in the war. "The Greatest Raid" was one result, a very well done story, and this story about Britain's highest honor. His interest and real admiration for these men helps explain his attitude toward people who complain about trivial matters.
@@prepperjonpnw6482 This is the other good one I saw just before this. (And referred to above by @Bullettube) The Legendary Commando Raid At St. Nazaire | The Greatest Raid Of All Time | 🌍 ruclips.net/video/SCMCr2Kh1wI/видео.html
Heroes or not, many of those guys suffered from nightmares caused by PTDS after the war. By not wanting to talk about their experiences, they were probably trying to erase those memories that fueled the nightmares...
The most emotional part was he never told his daughter about it during his life! Could you imagine the selflessness of that man. Almost all are selfless. That VC winner was unbelievable.
As an American I really like it as well but I do have a slight preference and bias to the USN Medal of Honor specifically. It too is simple: a star with Minerva repulsing snakes with a shield the star is hanging from an anchor (an anchor that ISN’T fouled which is uncommon in American symbology).
My great great uncle William Allen was awarded a V.C in the army medical core in 1916. His VC is displayed in the medical services museum in Mytchett Surrey. I’ve been lucky enough to see his VC HE WAS ALSO AWARDED A DSO military cross & bar and got a mention n dispatch’s. He also survived the Somme. I’m very proud of him. Then in WWII my grandad was awarded the military cross.
@@_who_tfstolemyoriginalname i haven't a clue i dont know if it was donated or sold it was done well before my time. I know my cousins (Williams great great grandkids) would have loved to be in posesion of it but its probably in a better place at the museum that way lots of people see it and know about great uncle willie
I think all soldiers have a sense of valor no matter which army you are fighting with it is the exceptional soldier who is honourable and gallant courageous and noble despite the unpleasant circumstances.
A true hero in every sense of the word. I don't know why I'm teary-eyed. My deepest respect 🙏 also to all those who fought and died to secure the freedoms we enjoy today. Always remembered and never forgotten with sincere love from the Fiji Islands 🇫🇯 ❤✌
He did his duty as he saw it, to hold up the German advance, survived, given the VC, and then carried on with his life as if nothing happened. I can imagine him and the other winners, being plagued with requests for interviews, to tell his and their stories over and over again, and probably thought why? I just did my duty and that's that. Remarkable man and men VC winners. These days, some people with awards can't shut up about what they did, and only too happy to be interviewed about what they did to earn it.
To say that the VC is Britain’s Medal of Honour is misleading. Deference should be directed towards the VC as it was awarded prior the MoH. So to be correct it should be the MoH is America’s VC.
I feel like it is easier to be awarded a MOH (if anything any soldier experiences while serving his country can be viewed as anything less than extremely challenging as an understatement.) They seem more willing to recognize a soldier in that way than the VC. That being said both the VC and the MOH are worn by and awarded to people who gave more than most in the most extraordinary ways and in the most extraordinary of circumstances...
@@ryansutter4291 There are number of MOH:s that has been revoked (and some later given back) and number that has been awarded decades or even century after the action. But there is also peace time recipient of MOH that could never happen in the case of VC.
After my father died my mother let me know he had been nominated for a VC in vietnam fighting in the same unit as Payne VC in the doco, he didnt get it but instead they did something very rare instead and gave him a field commission. He never mentioned the details but had read the military reports etc. As Jeremy said they never want to talk about it.
@@MrHeroicDemon never intended to minimize real heroes, it’s just that if you ask young people who their heroes are, they go on about rock stars and those just emerging from the closet.
The trouble with mentioning it is that you have to recount some very painful memories. And often they don't like being singled out in the first place for any special mention. Sometimes men like this are simply compelled to do what they did because of who they really are deep down and they can't offer much insight into it.
@@sixfootkiwi6957 Sounds like you know what you are talking about from experience. It must be a terrible burden to return to civilian existence and be surrounded by those who haven’t the least comprehension of what you saw, or felt, or did.
This was first aired in 2003 and along with his documentary on saint nazaire is one of the best programs of its type. I wrote to his publisher way back and suggested they release a double dvd. A few years later I owned said release.....just saying ;)
Glad to see one of Fiji's soldiers won one of those.Another had been campaigned by his comrades to be given a VC but sadly,because he was in a secret war as an SAS (SAS Operation Storm where there were 9 SAS against 400 enemy soldiers)he couldnt get a VC.RIP Talaiasi Labalaba and all the other men who died for their country and other countries and freedom.
This has been published on many channels on RUclips. It is still an amazing Documentry to watch, even for the 6th time. This is what makes people remember History, the real story of real people doing real things.
Australian recipients 6 in Boer war(1899-1902) 64 in WW1(1914-1918) 2 in North Russia(1919) 20 in WW2(1939-1945) 4 in Vietnam(1962-1972) 4 in Afghanistan(2001- )
Forget not the brave men who sacrificed all as a measure who we are by comparison. I might not have the courage to retrace even one step where they trod.
Clarkson's fascination with military history is amazing and he presents it so brilliantly. He should have a look at New Zealand's only VC for New Zealand (which replaced the British VC in 1999) recipient, CPL Bill "Willie" Apiata VC who was awarded it in 2007 while serving in Afghanistan.
@@tylerscott3078 yes certainly however Charles Upham received his VCs as a Commonwealth soldier, although he was a New Zealander he fought for the CW then his family sold his medals. Willie Apiata received his VC as a soldier of NZ hence the name VC of NZ, which he promptly gifted to SAS with the proviso it belonged to NZ, so it can't be sold.
If this kind of thing interests you, visit the Regimental Chapel at the top of Edinburgh Castle, where there is a display of VCs won by Scottish soldiers and brief accounts of how they were awarded. The stories are mind-blowing in their description of utter bravery and selflessness. You will come out of there a changed person.
I rarely comment on anything here on RUclips but with this amazing story of bravery and i have to be honest i`m holding back tears for those men as i write this,how could anyone not comment with absolute admiration for what they did us and our future generations.I lost my grandfather when i was too young to understand what he`d gone through and never got the chance to speak with him about the war (which is both good and bad),who would want to relive that?.More importantly though as a child he knew i loved him,i just wish i could told him i loved him for what he went through as well as who he was.R.I.P told those fallen heroes.x
This is an absolutely insane and incredible story about a normal bloke during something so brave and it definitely deserved a recommendation. That is why the Victoria Cross is absolutely beautiful, bc the recipient didn't see it as some grand action or anything, but simply what had to be done to save his comrades, and in the recipients eyes, it's not something they should get rewarded for by shining useless medals, their real reward and loss is the lives they saved and didn't save. The medal fits so well, bc it's a lot like the recipients, humble and not from the top brass.
👩💻All I knew of my dad's service is that he served on the U.S.S Essex aircraft carrier as an airplane mechanic. When he passed away I found out he was a Crew Chief and was briefed on the planned invasions of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. I did not learn that until the day he died in his obituary. Those guys could really keep a secret. Much love and peace.🙋♀️🪔🌠🖖🥰🔆🔆🔆
My grandpa fought in Okinawa. He was picked to be part of General MacArthur's honor guard from 1945 to 1946. He never told me what he did during the war he didn't like talking about it, all I know I had to find out on my own, I wish I knew more.
*For me...the last comment is the most profound....that we call someone a "hero", who scores a goal (and gets paid millions to do it), but someone who risks their life to save others is often overlooked. What that does tell us about how society has lost its moral compass. Its inability to recognize true worth!*
At least Beckham didn't get his much wanted Knighthood, which pleased me a lot, and laughed, as he was just a foot ball kicker who managed to kick the ball in the right direction. Only foot ball kickers call him a hero, the rest of us 'So what?' The yanks can keep him and posh spice too.
World isn't black and white, kid calls his dad a hero, tho for the whole world he is just an ordinary guy, it has nothing to do with moral compass or anything like that. Humans are driven by emotions, champions of the olympic (or even local) games were already called heroes in ancient times, not because they were saving lives, but they gave people the reason to struggle, some fun in the boring life. Isn't a guy who saves a life of a one broken man, who could be on a brink of suicide, by scoring amazing goal, a "true hero"? I think YOU are unable to recognize a true worth of a man, not society. Never depreciate another men or even whole society's desire to call someone a hero, it's the biggest sin.
What a story. That Major earned his VC a 100000%. And so did the others extrodenary soldiers the best of the best. And yes the VC is the highest of them all. Even its name is mythical. Greetings from Holland.
I love how those soldiers remember Major Kane, "you hadn't got to be frightened of him (those with rank often make fear a part of their control); this speaks to Kane's humanity.
This is by far the very best video on RUclips, extremely well presented with honour and integrity from Jeremy that shows a supreme sense of pride in telling the stories, while visibly being humbled by sheer amount of bravery these men showed at the very worst times of their lives. I for one, being former RAF salute each and every one of them with a humbled sense of pride, feeling that I could never imagine seeing that kind of bravery in today’s modern world. Per Ardua ad Astra. 🇬🇧🥃
@@ORDEROFTHEKNIGHTSTEMPLAR13 the Greatest Raid is exceptional, but it’s not as good as this due to the connection between the story and Jeremy for me, the Greatest Raid has spectacular stories of individual bravery just as the Bridge too far does, but there was a big difference in their training, Bridge too far were all regulars/gliders etc whereas Greatest Raid was predominantly Marines, which just edges it in my eyes.
The VC was established in 1856, the MoH in 1861. Before 1856 British army officers could be awarded Member or Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath. The Crimean War marked a transition because it was the first war where the war effort was heavily documented, which included acts of courage, valour and gallantry. One became aware that most of the courageous acts went unnoticed, and the Victoria Cross was established to commemorate these soldiers. The Victoria Cross remains to this day perhaps the most prestigious military award in the world, at least outside of the US. English is a second language, so I apologize for any typos.
@@loskop100 the cull was successful when a bounty was introduced. Three blokes and one Lewis gun trying to cover the biggest domestic state on the planet became just a meme, not history.
This is aimed at non-UK viewers (primarily Americans), so saying "British Medal of Honor" is going to be more intriguing and stand out more to casual viewers than "Victoria Cross", which means very little outside the UK. More people are going to click on the "BMoH" title than if it said "VC".
@Joy Jones what does land mass have to do with this? Australia, Canada and New Zealand all use the V.C as their top medal and Canada and Australia have very similar land mass to the US and much more when combined. You yanks came from Britain and only managed to seperate from them due to help from France. Pull your head in mate.
No disrespect to those who were awarded the British Award for Valor (VC), it has never been the "greatest" medal of the World. The empire, like the monarchy is an empty shell of what it once was. No one "wins" a medal for Valor, it is earned and awarded.
@Joy Jones Given the low number of VC's awarded yes it probably is, obviously British and Commonwealth forces don't leave basic training with a chest full of medals like they do in some countries of course.
What a phenominal story, and yes you are right from those previous comments, Jeremy is a brilliant story teller. This story of his father in law brought an emotion over me that made me want to personally meet all of these men, but of course, now we can't But to hear their stories of extreme bravey and determination to win is an honour to experience. bless them all.
Visited the Battle of Oosterbeek site many times as I have a very close friend in Arnhem. On a visit to Hartenstein museum, the thing I found most striking was the incredible bravery noted in the citations for medals that didn’t quite merit a VC. Reading those highlighted the incredible acts of gallantry necessary to be recognised by the award of a Victoria Cross. In my home, proudly on the wall is a copy of the VC awarded to Henry Howie Robson (my grandfather’s cousin). Excellent video.
I literally have no words that could ever remotely come close to describing how brave this man and all the other VC winners are. I literally can't put it to words... These hero's don't see the need to brag about what they did and nearly always if not always say they wear it for those that didn't cone home....
As an ex Staffordshire regt squaddie this story is well known to us all and now quite rightly to the world. But please don't forget the poor lads that never got across that river, the people of Arnhem always have.
Only just realised that my comment reads WRONG, the people of Arnhem have always remembered those lads and we were always made very, very welcome by them on our remembrance day visits.They will never forget.
Jeremy has done another amazing doco on this subject, for those who are interested, called The Greatest Raid of All Time. It "tells the story of one of the most daring operations of World War II - the Commando raid on the German occupied dry dock at St. Nazaire" Pretty sure its here on youtube :)
I used to live in Nijmegen and went to the alias cemetery in oosterbeek and we met an old woman in her late 70s tending a grave. We asked if she knew the soldier buried there and she told us she was a flower girl who was assigned a grave of one of the allies to look after there were 100s of these amazing young girls showing respect for the strangers who sacrificed their lives for their freedom.
I can never imagine someone taking out many tiger tanks alone. And especially while being critically injured. I was injured like 3 months ago by banging my knee on the road by tripping and I really could bearly walk and the pain was hammering but a guy like this that can take injuries many times worse and still go into combat and continue fighting and when getting medical treatment being back in combat very soon after is outstanding.
When your back is up against the wall, and all hope is logically gone and you know you are screwed anyways but continue to fight, is it courage or is it madness? I would say YES.
Watch his other video "THE GREATEST RAID 0F ALL TIME" you'll love it if you liked this it's about commandos attacking St nazzair in France which was virtually mission impossible and a one way ticket of not coming bzck alive
These people were part of the greatest generation, I've studied them for years. When I look at Britain today, it saddens me. They once fought bravely against the very type of government that rules them today.
Just found this and amazed at all of the brave men. Kudos to Mr. Clarkson for his sharing of his father in law's bravery. IMHO he would have loved having you be part of the family.
These Documentaries show Jeremy Clarkson at his best as a presenter. They are exceptionally well researched,put together and presented. Unlike on his other shows such as Top Gear or The Grand Tour, where a lot of it is about his personality and entertainment, Clarkson shows a great respect for the subject and those at the centre of the story. He is one of the best presenters for this kind of Television Programme. Well done.
Many comments on the footballer comment.... but the final story of the daughter who never knew is mind-blowing. On many levels. Completely cemented the story as beyond extraordinary, and Cain as the truest hero. Well done, Jeremy The Story Teller. In the U.S. many small towns put up signs in the welcome area and say, "Home of Medal of Honor winner, John Q. Public." And then you can visit their preserved childhood home, or a monument. I've stopped at 4-5 while touring. It is always worth the time and detour. It really makes you think.
The "British Medal of Honor"? This may be for an American audience but that is a terrible title. The VC is older than the MoH so, if anything, the MoH is the "American VC".
I really have to agree with this. While they are sort of equivalent, the Victoria Cross is specifically "For Valour". It is a terrible title, completely unnecessary.
The point of the title isn't accuracy, it's being eye-catching in a list of YT videos. Most people in the world will never have heard of the VC, and they are more likely to be hooked in to clicking on the video by "British Medal of Honor" than "Victoria Cross".
@@dunebasher1971 It is still a disgrace. They effectively changed the name of the program. Next we'll be hearing that London is the British version of Washington DC, or that Britain, is the British version of the USA. It really isn't necessary.
My younger daughter attended Christ's Hospital School from 1999 until 2006 with Corporal Joshua Leakey (1st Btn Parachute Regiment) who was awarded his cross following an action in Afghanistan. When she heard what he'd received it for in 2015 her reaction was: "No, it must be somebody with the same name - Josh was such a quiet little boy!"
Yep... enough said! Thanks to Mr Clarkson for this story... and to you all at Timeline for rerunning it! I have long wondered where I could find this piece - it has stayed with me since I first saw it all those years ago! God bless all those who fought for our freedom - something that seems to be slipping away at an alarming rate these days!
& Clarkson's last sentiment speaks volumes - appreciating proportionate endeavour - courage, bravery, & an indomitable spirit to faultlessly win against the odds. Every man who has earned the VC is truly deserving for their selfless actions in turning the tables on adversity; it is all too easy to make someone a "hero" - for scoring a bloody goal - celebrity status is worth no more than the hyperbole that (today's) society places upon what is implacably run of the mill - wholly disproportionate, & without any context to (our) unsung forebears who actually made a difference; the legacy of which need not be spelt out.
It's not the British medal of honor. It is the medal that is hardest to win. Since it's inception in 1857 there have been tens of millions in the British services and in the 164 years to date it has been awarded 1358 times. Some of the guys who were recommended and refused the VC performed prodigious feats in battle.....Yet not deemed enough. Certainly from the start of the 20th century, to win this medal one had to be courageous far beyond the bravery of those around you, save lives or be seen to make a strategic difference to the action you were involved in. Or both. If someone wins this medal then they are beyond the comprehension of us mere mortals.
With the U.S. (Congressional) Medal of Honor, the MoH community is careful never to use the terms "win" or "winner." It's not a contest. You receive the award or you are a recipient of the Medal of Honor. Whenever you hear of the Medal being awarded, always at the White House by the President, you'll notice that the words win or winner are never used either in terms of the ceremony or the "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty" described in the citation.
@@4thamendment237 I'm sure you are correct. But the truth of the actions that result in the award of this small piece of bronze is that the recipients have beaten fear, logical self preservation and the odds. In my mind that is a good definition of winning.
@@ianmarsden1130 point taken. But the reason "winning" is never used with the Medal of Honor is the MoH society's emphasis that winning makes it sound as if it's a contest and something you set out to accomplish rather than the grim reality of what is involved -- killing, death, and ultimate sacrifice in the gravest extreme. Over half the MoH recipients receive them posthumously. Did they "win" by undoubtedly suffering and dying, and are their survivors excited that they won? I ask that rhetorically.
He never thought to mention it Typical Brit lol. God I love being British lol Respect and gratitude to all of the men and women, both British and American, that saved us from the Nazi’s. If not for their sacrifices and sheer grit in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds the world would be a very different place. Thank you and Godspeed
@Hew Jarsol who treated life as worthless just to get to Berlin first, who survived from the 1000s of tons sent to them by the British and Americans, the Russians that would have failed on the Eastern Front if it was for all the food, commodities, and goods gifted to them cause their useless economy couldn't provide it. I see that as a victory for the west again, and that Russians wasted life like it was worthless. Not a great victory
@@vincentlefebvre9255 you are correct. I meant no disrespect towards all of the other troops that were involved. So I say thank you to all of them and to their families.
Might be an idea not to label the VC through a reference to a later American decoration in the title. Particularly when offering a completely British programme. I'm sure the American audience is sufficiently aware to know they are not the only country in the world even if their media presentation wants to treat them as if they are.
It's 2021, as I am listening to this video, I find myself mourning for these men, both for the British and the Germans who fought and died here. May they all rest in peace. A few minutes after my comment, we had an earthquake, shaking the building, making me wonder is there going to be more. After feeling 3 tremors, it seems all is well.
There were two other VC and bar recipients- Arthur Martin-Leake and Noel Chavasse, both doctors. Read Chavasse's story and you cannot help but be moved.
The story of what Robert Cain done is nothing short of extraordinary, it ranks with the Gurkha who held off 200 Japanese soldiers by himself as the greatest VC story I’ve ever heard. I have always loved what Queen Victoria said about the VC she said “It’s not about the medal, it’s the deed behind the medal that’s the important thing” it’s so, so true.
And I bet he averts his eyes from the sign every time he walks past it. Exactly as he said, everyone wants to do something nice for you. But you just want to forget about the losses that the action brought about, and try and create a life apart from all that.
It takes utter selfless humility and disregard for personal safety while prioritising the lives and safety of your comrades. That is how Charlie Upham is described, the only combat soldier to ever be awarded a double VC, both times during WW2. He was badass, yet faultlessly humble, gentle and kind to animals. Truely inspirational gentleman from New Zealand 🇳🇿
After seeing this, it makes me appreciate Jeremy Clarkson more. I grew up with top gear and grand tour thinking he was a profanity-laced, perverted man-child and the comedic relief, and thought he behave that way in real life. But he can be serious and respectful when the situation calls for it. That's some acting right there.
Charles Hazlitt Upham, (21 September 1908 - 22 November 1994) was a New Zealand soldier who was awarded the Victoria Cross (VC) twice during the Second World War- for gallantry in Crete in May 1941, and in Egypt, in July 1942. He was the most recent of only three people to receive the VC twice, the only one to receive two VCs during the Second World War and the only combat soldier to receive the award twice. As a result, Upham is often described as the most highly decorated Commonwealthsoldier of that war, as the VC is the Commonwealth's highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy.
It was perfect for the documentary and to the man, too, that was what caught me - you'd have understood if Jeremy had mentioned it earlier on, but he couldn't have done. He had to leave it until the end, and even then, hardly make a fuss about it. That was the only way that would have felt appropriate, and he did it masterfully, as you say.
The Victoria Cross is The Victoria Cross. It is not the British Medal of Honor. Stop infantalising Americans I'm sure they can work out The Victoria Cross is our highest award for Bravery without a reference to theirs.
@@synisterfish Per head the American spending on education is amongst the highest in the world. Now whether that money is mis-spent or not is another question. However to suggest Americans do not have access to a good education is incorrect, there's a good chance the device you used to post your comment was developed by an American. Regarding America's massive defence budget: well if America hadn't gone down that road and basically foot the bill for the defence of Western Europe from the encroaching Soviet Empire there would be no NHS or similar socialised healthcare in other European countries. It is a economic reality that the UK could not had defended itself adequately in the cold war and funded the NHS simultaneously. So let's together thank Americans for keeping us safe and allowing us to fund The NHS.
‘We’re ordinary people’, that’s a massive understatement. The actions of those who are holders of the V.C. are something that sets them apart from the rest of the nations they belong to. Their humble and unassuming demeanour is both endearing and typically understated, it speaks of their confidence in who they are. Extraordinary people receive the V.C., we all know that they have served their nations to a point that’s far beyond what is expected, there are people alive today because of them, sons, daughters, grandchildren and far beyond. We can’t really quantify all that we owe them for their service.
Clarckson’s genius is his storytelling ability, he makes the abstract real and human. It’s always a treat to hear him talk about history.
@@keramidasnicolas2079 imma guess failing economy military thinking about coup need a large victory to improve public image falklands seem easy
Was I right
@@kestrels-in-the-sky
Ever heard about punctuation ? Sorry, I do not understand your comment.
@@keramidasnicolas2079 ever heard of basic human manors or stream
Of conciseness writing? No? Well how about basic reading skills?
@@kestrels-in-the-sky
What would you say if I did like you do, but in a language that is foreign to you ?
An S.O.B., that's for sure but one unique entertainer. His tailor is excellent. Just saying.
I've watched this documentary 5-10 times over the years, and it still (literally) brings tears to my eyes.
I thank mr. Cain and other heroes like him, from the bottom of my heart, for being born and raised in a free Europe...
Thank You!
R.I.P.
Watching this one for about the 8th time. I have to admit smoke gets in my eyes. And it gets incredibly difficult to swallow. As a former soldier, I have nothing but respect and admiration for these men.
Jeremy Clarkson : act like a maniac in top gear and grand tour
Also Jeremy Clarkson : hosts a brilliant documentary about history.
And now, gentleman farmer too.
His storytelling is extraordinary
To be fair what he is like in TG and GT is an act. Like how most TV personalities are, they're basically actors. To me he's a master in storytelling. His choice of words and his tone is just glorious, he's one of the rare greats of storytelling and presenting. What ppl don't want to know is that irl he's a very respectful and patriotic man. A good father too. Everyone who's close to him has told good stories abt how he is irl.
Clarkson was top gear and he is the grand tour. He is what makes those shows good, as do hammond and may. They're all very good presenters.
@@phydeux Came in to say this. Found my work already done. Leaving satisfied.
It was finding out that his father-in-law was a Victoria Cross recipient that got Jeremy interested in this subject. He later proposed to the people at his studio to do a series of programs about the men who fought in the war. "The Greatest Raid" was one result, a very well done story, and this story about Britain's highest honor. His interest and real admiration for these men helps explain his attitude toward people who complain about trivial matters.
Do you know of any other shows like this one that Mr Clarkson has done?
I would love to see more like this.
@@prepperjonpnw6482 Just do a search on RUclips. He also hosted a series called "Greatest Britains".
@@prepperjonpnw6482 This is the other good one I saw just before this. (And referred to above by @Bullettube)
The Legendary Commando Raid At St. Nazaire | The Greatest Raid Of All Time | 🌍 ruclips.net/video/SCMCr2Kh1wI/видео.html
@@prepperjonpnw6482 forgotten the name of it but he did one on an article convoy aswell
@@chrisrust4344 It was called PQ17: An Arctic Convoy Disaster.
No body tells a tale like Clarkson...his choice of words his tone ...the way he pauses just long enough at the right moments..just gotta love the guy
As much as I love Top Gear, this is the best thing I've ever seen Clarkson do.
I find it absolutely incredible that this brave and obviously modest man did not tell his daughter of his VC. A true hero!
He never thought to mention it, is probably the most British sentence I have ever heard. Lol
@@prepperjonpnw6482 filed the paperwork 1st.
Whata Gangster.
A gentleman is someone who climbs the Mount Everest, never mention it, and then politely listens to someone explaining how they climbed a hill.
Heroes or not, many of those guys suffered from nightmares caused by PTDS after the war. By not wanting to talk about their experiences, they were probably trying to erase those memories that fueled the nightmares...
@@keramidasnicolas2079Very true..Them types of people have got everything to say but nothing to say..
The most emotional part was he never told his daughter about it during his life! Could you imagine the selflessness of that man. Almost all are selfless. That VC winner was unbelievable.
As a Finnish person whom loves simplicity the Victoria Cross is absolutely stunning !!!
As an American I really like it as well but I do have a slight preference and bias to the USN Medal of Honor specifically. It too is simple: a star with Minerva repulsing snakes with a shield the star is hanging from an anchor (an anchor that ISN’T fouled which is uncommon in American symbology).
Perkele
@@ThomasRonnbergDon’t be petty and crass. Just try and appreciate what is being told!
My great great uncle William Allen was awarded a V.C in the army medical core in 1916. His VC is displayed in the medical services museum in Mytchett Surrey. I’ve been lucky enough to see his VC HE WAS ALSO AWARDED A DSO military cross & bar and got a mention n dispatch’s. He also survived the Somme. I’m very proud of him. Then in WWII my grandad was awarded the military cross.
What a man. That's an amazing list of decoration, truly gallant man.
You should be undoubtedly proud. He must've been a great man.
Well done Uncle William
Amazing, pass on his memory and keep that pride! May i ask how it ended up in a museum tho?
@@_who_tfstolemyoriginalname i haven't a clue i dont know if it was donated or sold it was done well before my time. I know my cousins (Williams great great grandkids) would have loved to be in posesion of it but its probably in a better place at the museum that way lots of people see it and know about great uncle willie
Even though I'm an American, I tip my hat to the British Army during the War. You fellows really showed the world what Valor means...
Thank you for those kind words.. I think it's true to say though that valour knows no national boundaries :)
'The' War? 🙂There have been so many...
I think all soldiers have a sense of valor no matter which army you are fighting with it is the exceptional soldier who is honourable and gallant courageous and noble despite the unpleasant circumstances.
Have you watched "THE GREATEST RAID OF ALL TIME" Jeremy narrates it and it's an absolutely mind boggling..
A true hero in every sense of the word. I don't know why I'm teary-eyed. My deepest respect 🙏 also to all those who fought and died to secure the freedoms we enjoy today. Always remembered and never forgotten with sincere love from the Fiji Islands 🇫🇯 ❤✌
An amazing tale of incredible bravery on the part of people who refused to be overwhelmed by the enemy or the situation at the time.
He did his duty as he saw it, to hold up the German advance, survived, given the VC, and then carried on with his life as if nothing happened.
I can imagine him and the other winners, being plagued with requests for interviews, to tell his and their stories over and over again, and probably thought why? I just did my duty and that's that. Remarkable man and men VC winners.
These days, some people with awards can't shut up about what they did, and only too happy to be interviewed about what they did to earn it.
To say that the VC is Britain’s Medal of Honour is misleading. Deference should be directed towards the VC as it was awarded prior the MoH. So to be correct it should be the MoH is America’s VC.
I feel like it is easier to be awarded a MOH (if anything any soldier experiences while serving his country can be viewed as anything less than extremely challenging as an understatement.) They seem more willing to recognize a soldier in that way than the VC.
That being said both the VC and the MOH are worn by and awarded to people who gave more than most in the most extraordinary ways and in the most extraordinary of circumstances...
It's any award that is high in any country
Yeah, but you know, gotta dumb it down for the Yanks.
@@ryansutter4291 There are number of MOH:s that has been revoked (and some later given back) and number that has been awarded decades or even century after the action. But there is also peace time recipient of MOH that could never happen in the case of VC.
The Medal of Honor’s tend to be awarded for saving people or fighting one man last stands.
After my father died my mother let me know he had been nominated for a VC in vietnam fighting in the same unit as Payne VC in the doco, he didnt get it but instead they did something very rare instead and gave him a field commission. He never mentioned the details but had read the military reports etc. As Jeremy said they never want to talk about it.
How true.
Here is the REAL reason behind the Falklands war :
www.peterdavidbeter.com/docs/all/dbal74.html
www.peterdavidbeter.com/docs/all/dbal75.html
“He never thought to mention it” to his own daughter. How small our present day heroes are by comparison.
How dare you, there might be tons of heroes today, that never thought to mention it either.
@@MrHeroicDemon never intended to minimize real heroes, it’s just that if you ask young people who their heroes are, they go on about rock stars and those just emerging from the closet.
That is thing that real hero do
The trouble with mentioning it is that you have to recount some very painful memories. And often they don't like being singled out in the first place for any special mention. Sometimes men like this are simply compelled to do what they did because of who they really are deep down and they can't offer much insight into it.
@@sixfootkiwi6957 Sounds like you know what you are talking about from experience. It must be a terrible burden to return to civilian existence and be surrounded by those who haven’t the least comprehension of what you saw, or felt, or did.
This was first aired in 2003 and along with his documentary on saint nazaire is one of the best programs of its type.
I wrote to his publisher way back and suggested they release a double dvd.
A few years later I owned said release.....just saying ;)
Well thank you for your possible influence!
Where can I get one of those?
I AGREE it was truly spellbinding and I am truly irritated that a short tv series has never been made about those total maverick badasses.
@@prepperjonpnw6482 Amazon.
Search for war stories
no need for that bbc put all there stuff on dvd, you can also download it from the first day it was aired
Jeremy Clarkson doing a military history documentary? I click like.
Thank you for your service to humanity Jezza.
Clarkson: You can hear my genius .... :-)
M8 you think this is good, wait till you see his St.Nazaire raid documentary.
What is a jezza? , this guy talking sounds OK, has he done any other documentry
@@1971dave youd have to watch top gear to understand
@@SilenTHerO78614 I don't take drugs, don't really wanna watch anything to do with drugs.
Glad to see one of Fiji's soldiers won one of those.Another had been campaigned by his comrades to be given a VC but sadly,because he was in a secret war as an SAS (SAS Operation Storm where there were 9 SAS against 400 enemy soldiers)he couldnt get a VC.RIP Talaiasi Labalaba and all the other men who died for their country and other countries and freedom.
This has been published on many channels on RUclips. It is still an amazing Documentry to watch, even for the 6th time. This is what makes people remember History, the real story of real people doing real things.
Clarkson at his finest! Absolutely brilliant 👍🏼
Australian recipients
6 in Boer war(1899-1902)
64 in WW1(1914-1918)
2 in North Russia(1919)
20 in WW2(1939-1945)
4 in Vietnam(1962-1972)
4 in Afghanistan(2001- )
Are you including ANZAC as a whole or just Australians alone? Just curious
@@Red_Beard2798 I think he means just Australians because he doesn’t mention ANZACs in his comment
Forget not the brave men who sacrificed all as a measure who we are by comparison. I might not have the courage to retrace even one step where they trod.
Yeah but a Kiwi was awarded two VCs
@@ngatimozart must have been an honour to meet such a man
Clarkson's fascination with military history is amazing and he presents it so brilliantly. He should have a look at New Zealand's only VC for New Zealand (which replaced the British VC in 1999) recipient, CPL Bill "Willie" Apiata VC who was awarded it in 2007 while serving in Afghanistan.
Charles Upham got two during ww2 very famous kiwi
@@tylerscott3078 yes certainly however Charles Upham received his VCs as a Commonwealth soldier, although he was a New Zealander he fought for the CW then his family sold his medals. Willie Apiata received his VC as a soldier of NZ hence the name VC of NZ, which he promptly gifted to SAS with the proviso it belonged to NZ, so it can't be sold.
If this kind of thing interests you, visit the Regimental Chapel at the top of Edinburgh Castle, where there is a display of VCs won by Scottish soldiers and brief accounts of how they were awarded. The stories are mind-blowing in their description of utter bravery and selflessness. You will come out of there a changed person.
My Grandads VC is one of them - Norman Isaac is not my real name. 4:21
I'll take a look when I'm next there thanks
I rarely comment on anything here on RUclips but with this amazing story of bravery and i have to be honest i`m holding back tears for those men as i write this,how could anyone not comment with absolute admiration for what they did us and our future generations.I lost my grandfather when i was too young to understand what he`d gone through and never got the chance to speak with him about the war (which is both good and bad),who would want to relive that?.More importantly though as a child he knew i loved him,i just wish i could told him i loved him for what he went through as well as who he was.R.I.P told those fallen heroes.x
I admire the loyalty,honesty and watching each others back amongst common soilders in the army or ground troops
At last, one documentary I can watch without a VPN
Turbo VPN is free
Because it promotes the British Empire.......
I have Proton VPN
What, a Visible Panty Nien?
@@jeanross7430.. and entirely homoeopathic amongst other male men...
This is an absolutely insane and incredible story about a normal bloke during something so brave and it definitely deserved a recommendation. That is why the Victoria Cross is absolutely beautiful, bc the recipient didn't see it as some grand action or anything, but simply what had to be done to save his comrades, and in the recipients eyes, it's not something they should get rewarded for by shining useless medals, their real reward and loss is the lives they saved and didn't save. The medal fits so well, bc it's a lot like the recipients, humble and not from the top brass.
👩💻All I knew of my dad's service is that he served on the U.S.S Essex aircraft carrier as an airplane mechanic. When he passed away I found out he was a Crew Chief and was briefed on the planned invasions of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. I did not learn that until the day he died in his obituary. Those guys could really keep a secret. Much love and peace.🙋♀️🪔🌠🖖🥰🔆🔆🔆
My grandpa fought in Okinawa. He was picked to be part of General MacArthur's honor guard from 1945 to 1946. He never told me what he did during the war he didn't like talking about it, all I know I had to find out on my own, I wish I knew more.
What a man brought a tear to my eyes
Honestly. Clarkson hosting these military documentaries are a total Gem.
*For me...the last comment is the most profound....that we call someone a "hero", who scores a goal (and gets paid millions to do it), but someone who risks their life to save others is often overlooked. What that does tell us about how society has lost its moral compass. Its inability to recognize true worth!*
Not all of us are guilty of that degrading confusion.
Bang on Values have gone to pot!!!
At least Beckham didn't get his much wanted Knighthood, which pleased me a lot, and laughed, as he was just a foot ball kicker who managed to kick the ball in the right direction.
Only foot ball kickers call him a hero, the rest of us 'So what?'
The yanks can keep him and posh spice too.
World isn't black and white, kid calls his dad a hero, tho for the whole world he is just an ordinary guy, it has nothing to do with moral compass or anything like that. Humans are driven by emotions, champions of the olympic (or even local) games were already called heroes in ancient times, not because they were saving lives, but they gave people the reason to struggle, some fun in the boring life. Isn't a guy who saves a life of a one broken man, who could be on a brink of suicide, by scoring amazing goal, a "true hero"? I think YOU are unable to recognize a true worth of a man, not society. Never depreciate another men or even whole society's desire to call someone a hero, it's the biggest sin.
@@Trillock-hy1cf no thanks, you can have them both back
What a story. That Major earned his VC a 100000%. And so did the others extrodenary soldiers the best of the best. And yes the VC is the highest of them all. Even its name is mythical. Greetings from Holland.
I love how those soldiers remember Major Kane, "you hadn't got to be frightened of him (those with rank often make fear a part of their control); this speaks to Kane's humanity.
Major Robert Henry *Cain*
This is by far the very best video on RUclips, extremely well presented with honour and integrity from Jeremy that shows a supreme sense of pride in telling the stories, while visibly being humbled by sheer amount of bravery these men showed at the very worst times of their lives. I for one, being former RAF salute each and every one of them with a humbled sense of pride, feeling that I could never imagine seeing that kind of bravery in today’s modern world. Per Ardua ad Astra. 🇬🇧🥃
"THE GREATEST RAID" is better..
@@ORDEROFTHEKNIGHTSTEMPLAR13 the Greatest Raid is exceptional, but it’s not as good as this due to the connection between the story and Jeremy for me, the Greatest Raid has spectacular stories of individual bravery just as the Bridge too far does, but there was a big difference in their training, Bridge too far were all regulars/gliders etc whereas Greatest Raid was predominantly Marines, which just edges it in my eyes.
Possibly the best VC documentary ever. Moving beyond description.
"Britains medal of honor" ooooof even as an Aussie that hurt. The VC well and truly precedes the US copy and is revered in the commonwealth.
The VC was established in 1856, the MoH in 1861. Before 1856 British army officers could be awarded Member or Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath. The Crimean War marked a transition because it was the first war where the war effort was heavily documented, which included acts of courage, valour and gallantry. One became aware that most of the courageous acts went unnoticed, and the Victoria Cross was established to commemorate these soldiers.
The Victoria Cross remains to this day perhaps the most prestigious military award in the world, at least outside of the US.
English is a second language, so I apologize for any typos.
I wonder how many Emus got the VC equivalent in Australia?
@@andregon4366 The emu's won't get any because they won the war.
well maybe if it wasn't named after an old incestuous broad it would be more revered.
@@loskop100 the cull was successful when a bounty was introduced. Three blokes and one Lewis gun trying to cover the biggest domestic state on the planet became just a meme, not history.
It's not the "British Medal of Honour". It's the Victoria Cross.
It is honour not honor. I was honor for 2 hours last night. Do I get a medal?
@@ShireGeordie Makem,or Takem ?..only joking.
Correct. That didn't sit right with me either. I can't explain why.
@@gregc2467 That is it. No christmas card for you this year after swearing on RUclips 😂
This is aimed at non-UK viewers (primarily Americans), so saying "British Medal of Honor" is going to be more intriguing and stand out more to casual viewers than "Victoria Cross", which means very little outside the UK. More people are going to click on the "BMoH" title than if it said "VC".
"he would have won the world's highest award for valour; [insert Clarksonesque dramatic pause]
THE VICTORIA CROSS."
"[ ]; IN THE WORLD."
@Joy Jones what does land mass have to do with this? Australia, Canada and New Zealand all use the V.C as their top medal and Canada and Australia have very similar land mass to the US and much more when combined.
You yanks came from Britain and only managed to seperate from them due to help from France.
Pull your head in mate.
No disrespect to those who were awarded the British Award for Valor (VC), it has never been the "greatest" medal of the World. The empire, like the monarchy is an empty shell of what it once was.
No one "wins" a medal for Valor, it is earned and awarded.
@Joy Jones Given the low number of VC's awarded yes it probably is, obviously British and Commonwealth forces don't leave basic training with a chest full of medals like they do in some countries of course.
@Joy Jones 4 is an interesting definition of 'plenty' if you mean US recipients of the VC , For Valour.
What a phenominal story, and yes you are right from those previous comments, Jeremy is a brilliant story teller. This story of his father in law brought an emotion over me that made me want to personally meet all of these men, but of course, now we can't But to hear their stories of extreme bravey and determination to win is an honour to experience. bless them all.
We have 3 Victoria Cross recipients in and around our village. VC Khudadad Khan, VC Sher Shah and VC Ali Haidar .
its a pitty Pakistan did not value its VC recipients, today no one even knows anything about them.
God bless India
Best thing I have ever seen Clarkson present. What an amazing story.
His other video "THE GREATEST EVER RAID" is better..Just
Visited the Battle of Oosterbeek site many times as I have a very close friend in Arnhem. On a visit to Hartenstein museum, the thing I found most striking was the incredible bravery noted in the citations for medals that didn’t quite merit a VC. Reading those highlighted the incredible acts of gallantry necessary to be recognised by the award of a Victoria Cross. In my home, proudly on the wall is a copy of the VC awarded to Henry Howie Robson (my grandfather’s cousin). Excellent video.
There have been so many that went unrecognised. This is why I think most VC winners say they wear it for others.
Wow! Such iron will i am unable to imagine! Perhaps the best VC of all time. Humbling. 🙏
Major Kane's story would make a great film
I literally have no words that could ever remotely come close to describing how brave this man and all the other VC winners are. I literally can't put it to words... These hero's don't see the need to brag about what they did and nearly always if not always say they wear it for those that didn't cone home....
As an ex Staffordshire regt squaddie this story is well known to us all and now quite rightly to the world.
But please don't forget the poor lads that never got across that river, the people of Arnhem always have.
Only just realised that my comment reads WRONG, the people of Arnhem have always remembered those lads and we were always made very, very welcome by them on our remembrance day visits.They will never forget.
One of the best documentaries I’ve watched in my 63 years of life. I salute MAJ Cain…he was a hero of heroes!!!
Have you watched his other video called "THE GREATEST EVER RAID* ?
Jeremy has done another amazing doco on this subject, for those who are interested, called The Greatest Raid of All Time. It "tells the story of one of the most daring operations of World War II - the Commando raid on the German occupied dry dock at St. Nazaire"
Pretty sure its here on youtube :)
I watched it just before this video lol
It was amazing! Do you know of any other shows like this one that Mr. Clarkson has done?
@@prepperjonpnw6482 he is such a brilliant storyteller! I can't think of any off the top of my head but I'm pretty sure they're are more of these
He did one on an article convoy . PQ17 an arctic convoy disaster 🤓
@@stephenhaywood5672 Well, I know what I'll be watching tonight! Thanks for that :D
Just watched it before this and it's absolutely crazy what the commandos done..
Absolute masterful researching, writing and telling of a grand story of utter heroism.
I used to live in Nijmegen and went to the alias cemetery in oosterbeek and we met an old woman in her late 70s tending a grave. We asked if she knew the soldier buried there and she told us she was a flower girl who was assigned a grave of one of the allies to look after there were 100s of these amazing young girls showing respect for the strangers who sacrificed their lives for their freedom.
That ending gave me goosebumps. What Clarkson says.. Man. What are the chances.
Love Jeremy’s storytelling
I can never imagine someone taking out many tiger tanks alone. And especially while being critically injured. I was injured like 3 months ago by banging my knee on the road by tripping and I really could bearly walk and the pain was hammering but a guy like this that can take injuries many times worse and still go into combat and continue fighting and when getting medical treatment being back in combat very soon after is outstanding.
When your back is up against the wall, and all hope is logically gone and you know you are screwed anyways but continue to fight, is it courage or is it madness? I would say YES.
This Documentary is the best thing that I have ever watched on RUclips. Thank you for posting it.
Watch his other video "THE GREATEST RAID 0F ALL TIME" you'll love it if you liked this it's about commandos attacking St nazzair in France which was virtually mission impossible and a one way ticket of not coming bzck alive
It is fitting that the medal itself does not approach the splendour of the bravery for which it is awarded.
These people were part of the greatest generation, I've studied them for years. When I look at Britain today, it saddens me. They once fought bravely against the very type of government that rules them today.
A beautiful Medal with a elegance that doesn't overstate the horror one went through to receive such an honour.
Just found this and amazed at all of the brave men. Kudos to Mr. Clarkson for his sharing of his father in law's bravery. IMHO he would have loved having you be part of the family.
Thank you Mr Clarkson for telling this truly inspiring story. God bless
I literally gasped at the end. Well worth watching...
Cain was and still is the man, even in death. Not very many people these days are made in that mold like he was. May he rest in peace
Get his name correct; it was Cain.
@@mkrbrtsn1 noted
These Documentaries show Jeremy Clarkson at his best as a presenter. They are exceptionally well researched,put together and presented. Unlike on his other shows such as Top Gear or The Grand Tour, where a lot of it is about his personality and entertainment, Clarkson shows a great respect for the subject and those at the centre of the story. He is one of the best presenters for this kind of Television Programme. Well done.
Wish Jeremy did more Documentaries his voice goes hand in hand with taking in information
I recommend Clarkson's Farm in you have Amazon Prime
Watch his other video "THE GREATEST RAID OF ALL TIME"
Many comments on the footballer comment.... but the final story of the daughter who never knew is mind-blowing. On many levels. Completely cemented the story as beyond extraordinary, and Cain as the truest hero. Well done, Jeremy The Story Teller.
In the U.S. many small towns put up signs in the welcome area and say, "Home of Medal of Honor winner, John Q. Public." And then you can visit their preserved childhood home, or a monument. I've stopped at 4-5 while touring. It is always worth the time and detour. It really makes you think.
The "British Medal of Honor"? This may be for an American audience but that is a terrible title. The VC is older than the MoH so, if anything, the MoH is the "American VC".
I really have to agree with this. While they are sort of equivalent, the Victoria Cross is specifically "For Valour". It is a terrible title, completely unnecessary.
No it isn't
@@CoolioXXX52 You're right, it isn't. I was just making a point about the inaccurate title.
The point of the title isn't accuracy, it's being eye-catching in a list of YT videos. Most people in the world will never have heard of the VC, and they are more likely to be hooked in to clicking on the video by "British Medal of Honor" than "Victoria Cross".
@@dunebasher1971 It is still a disgrace. They effectively changed the name of the program. Next we'll be hearing that London is the British version of Washington DC, or that Britain, is the British version of the USA. It really isn't necessary.
I’d like to say thank you for all you have done for me and my family to live how we do right now to each and everyone of these absolute men ❤️
My younger daughter attended Christ's Hospital School from 1999 until 2006 with Corporal Joshua Leakey (1st Btn Parachute Regiment) who was awarded his cross following an action in Afghanistan.
When she heard what he'd received it for in 2015 her reaction was: "No, it must be somebody with the same name - Josh was such a quiet little boy!"
Joshua Leakey distant uncle was also awarded the VC, to say that Valor and courageous runs in that family I's an understatement
This has to be one of the best programmes I have ever seen?!!!
Yep... enough said! Thanks to Mr Clarkson for this story... and to you all at Timeline for rerunning it! I have long wondered where I could find this piece - it has stayed with me since I first saw it all those years ago!
God bless all those who fought for our freedom - something that seems to be slipping away at an alarming rate these days!
What a story, impossible not getting emotional.
& Clarkson's last sentiment speaks volumes - appreciating proportionate endeavour - courage, bravery, & an indomitable spirit to faultlessly win against the odds. Every man who has earned the VC is truly deserving for their selfless actions in turning the tables on adversity; it is all too easy to make someone a "hero" - for scoring a bloody goal - celebrity status is worth no more than the hyperbole that (today's) society places upon what is implacably run of the mill - wholly disproportionate, & without any context to (our) unsung forebears who actually made a difference; the legacy of which need not be spelt out.
Jeremy, superiorly done! You've done many good projects but this is beyond compare. Be proud. You earned it.
Loved this when I first saw it. Nice to see a good transfer on youtube.
Jeremy Clarkson's WW2 doc's are brilliant . I wish they'd done a proper series.
I kept hoping that Charles Upham (VC with bar) would come up! One of the most incredible stories from WW2.
Have you watched his other video "THE GREATEST RAID OF ALL TIME" COMMANDOS raiding St Nazzair in France
just plain tremendous respect is left after watching this.......
I hear Clarkson's voice and expect to hear Hamster and Captain Slow as well...RIP Top Gear...the real OG TG!
Or a reliant robin to come crashing through the cemetery or something.
Not even close to the "OG" Top Gear, it's been on UK television since the 70's
Charles Upham won two Victoria crosses in WW2, why on earth was he left out, I mean he won TWO
It's not the British medal of honor. It is the medal that is hardest to win. Since it's inception in 1857 there have been tens of millions in the British services and in the 164 years to date it has been awarded 1358 times.
Some of the guys who were recommended and refused the VC performed prodigious feats in battle.....Yet not deemed enough.
Certainly from the start of the 20th century, to win this medal one had to be courageous far beyond the bravery of those around you, save lives or be seen to make a strategic difference to the action you were involved in. Or both.
If someone wins this medal then they are beyond the comprehension of us mere mortals.
With the U.S. (Congressional) Medal of Honor, the MoH community is careful never to use the terms "win" or "winner." It's not a contest. You receive the award or you are a recipient of the Medal of Honor. Whenever you hear of the Medal being awarded, always at the White House by the President, you'll notice that the words win or winner are never used either in terms of the ceremony or the "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty" described in the citation.
@@4thamendment237 I'm sure you are correct. But the truth of the actions that result in the award of this small piece of bronze is that the recipients have beaten fear, logical self preservation and the odds.
In my mind that is a good definition of winning.
@@ianmarsden1130 point taken. But the reason "winning" is never used with the Medal of Honor is the MoH society's emphasis that winning makes it sound as if it's a contest and something you set out to accomplish rather than the grim reality of what is involved -- killing, death, and ultimate sacrifice in the gravest extreme. Over half the MoH recipients receive them posthumously. Did they "win" by undoubtedly suffering and dying, and are their survivors excited that they won? I ask that rhetorically.
You don't "win" it..its not a race..you receive it.
I watch this every couple of years, just brilliant
Anytime Clarkson narrates, I'm watching. His storytelling and use of the English language is simply brilliant. Please do a reading of the Bible!
He only does factual stuff, not fairy tales.
When Clarkson does history the product is awesome which often brings me to tears . When Snow Jnr makes them I don't care.
He never thought to mention it
Typical Brit lol.
God I love being British lol
Respect and gratitude to all of the men and women, both British and American, that saved us from the Nazi’s. If not for their sacrifices and sheer grit in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds the world would be a very different place.
Thank you and Godspeed
British and americans ? Yes but you seem to forget the men from commonwealth. Many were not of english,scott or irish descent.
@Hew Jarsol who treated life as worthless just to get to Berlin first, who survived from the 1000s of tons sent to them by the British and Americans, the Russians that would have failed on the Eastern Front if it was for all the food, commodities, and goods gifted to them cause their useless economy couldn't provide it. I see that as a victory for the west again, and that Russians wasted life like it was worthless. Not a great victory
@@vincentlefebvre9255 you are correct. I meant no disrespect towards all of the other troops that were involved. So I say thank you to all of them and to their families.
Might be an idea not to label the VC through a reference to a later American decoration in the title. Particularly when offering a completely British programme. I'm sure the American audience is sufficiently aware to know they are not the only country in the world even if their media presentation wants to treat them as if they are.
It's 2021, as I am listening to this video, I find myself mourning for these men, both for the British and the Germans who fought and died here. May they all rest in peace. A few minutes after my comment, we had an earthquake, shaking the building, making me wonder is there going to be more. After feeling 3 tremors, it seems all is well.
Charles Upham received the VC twice during WW2 for his actions in Crete & Al Alamein in Egypt.
There were two other VC and bar recipients- Arthur Martin-Leake and Noel Chavasse, both doctors. Read Chavasse's story and you cannot help but be moved.
@@TheBobPeyton His point is that Upham is the only combat soldier to win two VCs.
The story of what Robert Cain done is nothing short of extraordinary, it ranks with the Gurkha who held off 200 Japanese soldiers by himself as the greatest VC story I’ve ever heard. I have always loved what Queen Victoria said about the VC she said “It’s not about the medal, it’s the deed behind the medal that’s the important thing” it’s so, so true.
Bill Speakman is one of my best friend’s great uncles. There is a road named after him in Altrincham where he comes from.
And I bet he averts his eyes from the sign every time he walks past it. Exactly as he said, everyone wants to do something nice for you. But you just want to forget about the losses that the action brought about, and try and create a life apart from all that.
It takes utter selfless humility and disregard for personal safety while prioritising the lives and safety of your comrades.
That is how Charlie Upham is described, the only combat soldier to ever be awarded a double VC, both times during WW2. He was badass, yet faultlessly humble, gentle and kind to animals. Truely inspirational gentleman from New Zealand 🇳🇿
After seeing this, it makes me appreciate Jeremy Clarkson more. I grew up with top gear and grand tour thinking he was a profanity-laced, perverted man-child and the comedic relief, and thought he behave that way in real life. But he can be serious and respectful when the situation calls for it. That's some acting right there.
Perverted?
Charles Hazlitt Upham, (21 September 1908 - 22 November 1994) was a New Zealand soldier who was awarded the Victoria Cross (VC) twice during the Second World War- for gallantry in Crete in May 1941, and in Egypt, in July 1942. He was the most recent of only three people to receive the VC twice, the only one to receive two VCs during the Second World War and the only combat soldier to receive the award twice. As a result, Upham is often described as the most highly decorated Commonwealthsoldier of that war, as the VC is the Commonwealth's highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy.
As I was watching this I was thinking he was being too generous to 1 VC (compared to others) but the twist at the end was masterful.
It was perfect for the documentary and to the man, too, that was what caught me - you'd have understood if Jeremy had mentioned it earlier on, but he couldn't have done. He had to leave it until the end, and even then, hardly make a fuss about it. That was the only way that would have felt appropriate, and he did it masterfully, as you say.
Now that’s a documentary! Brilliantly done and, above all, narrated!
Clarkson didn't just narrate it. He researched & wrote it as well.
Simply magnificent.
Incredible bravery. Superb documentary.
The Victoria Cross is The Victoria Cross. It is not the British Medal of Honor. Stop infantalising Americans I'm sure they can work out The Victoria Cross is our highest award for Bravery without a reference to theirs.
Don't be so sure. We are talking about Americans here....
@@wolfecanada6726 We can throw in a few ad breaks to show some Monster Trucks every 5 minutes ...
Fax
I really don't think they can...
all of their education budget keeps getting spent on terror weapons with which to bully the world...
@@synisterfish Per head the American spending on education is amongst the highest in the world. Now whether that money is mis-spent or not is another question. However to suggest Americans do not have access to a good education is incorrect, there's a good chance the device you used to post your comment was developed by an American. Regarding America's massive defence budget: well if America hadn't gone down that road and basically foot the bill for the defence of Western Europe from the encroaching Soviet Empire there would be no NHS or similar socialised healthcare in other European countries. It is a economic reality that the UK could not had defended itself adequately in the cold war and funded the NHS simultaneously. So let's together thank Americans for keeping us safe and allowing us to fund The NHS.
‘We’re ordinary people’, that’s a massive understatement. The actions of those who are holders of the V.C. are something that sets them apart from the rest of the nations they belong to. Their humble and unassuming demeanour is both endearing and typically understated, it speaks of their confidence in who they are.
Extraordinary people receive the V.C., we all know that they have served their nations to a point that’s far beyond what is expected, there are people alive today because of them, sons, daughters, grandchildren and far beyond. We can’t really quantify all that we owe them for their service.
Why no mention of Rorkes Drift in South Africa where more Victorian Crosses were awarded more than any battle before or since?
Cause everybody knows about Rorkes Drift, no ones heard of the others
I think you've rather missed the point that this was really the personal story of Clarkson's father-in-law.