OUR armed forces have had to take some serious criticism in recent months - some of it justified.

But the actions of one brave soldier have gone a long way to restoring public pride in the work our military does in war zones and hot spots around the world.

Private Johnson Beharry, 25, single-handedly saved 30 colleagues as he guided them through an enemy ambush in Iraq.

And just a month later he was at it again, saving further lives in a second ferocious exchange and suffered serious head wounds in a rocket-propelled grenade assault which left him in a coma.

As a result of his bravery Private Beharry becomes the first living recipient of a Victoria Cross - the highest award for gallantry in the face of enemy attack bestowed on British and Commonwealth soldiers - since 1965.

The married private, who is still recovering from his injuries and bears a scar across his skull from surgery, was apparently modest when told of his award and said he thought he was just doing his job.

After the allegations of the abuse of Iraqi prisoners and the high-profile court martial that followed, Army chiefs must be relieved to get some good press at last.

Pte Beharry is among more than 140 servicemen and women to be honoured in the latest operational list for work in Iraq, Afghanistan, Northern Ireland, the former Yugoslavia, Liberia, the Congo and Sierra Leone.

The actions of Pte Beharry, who was born on the Caribbean island of Grenada, were remarkable and will have gone a long way to restoring some much-needed pride in our armed services.

The former construction worker came to the UK in August 1999 and enlisted in 2001, serving tours of duty in Iraq, Kosovo and Northern Ireland.

But the actions of Pte Beharry has also sent a clear message to the far right cowards of the BNP and the remaining racists of modern, multi-cultural Britain.

You see, like a growing number of our servicemen and women, he's black.