Foreword by Lord Ashcroft
Iam always enthusiastic to discover more when I learn there is about to be a new publication on the Victoria Cross (VC), Britain and the Commonwealth’s most prestigious gallantry medal. When I was informed that the latest offering was in the capable hands of Andy Saunders, with contributions from Martin Mace, my eagerness to see the end product increased. For I have grown to know and admire the work of both these accomplished military historians over the years.
I am sometimes described as a military historian too but, in truth, my overriding passion is for bravery. This, in turn, explains my long-term dedication to championing the VC, along with those brave men who have been the recipients of the medal over the past 168 years. For behind every award of the VC, there is a wonderful tale of gallantry and derring-do.
My great interest in courage dates back to when I was a small boy and my father, with much prompting from his inquisitive son, told me about his own experiences on D-Day: 6 June 1944. Before my father Eric – then a young lieutenant – and his CO arrived on Sword Beach, they had been warned to expect 75 per cent casualties – dead and wounded – among the first to land on German-occupied French soil. In fact, my father’s CO was shot dead by a sniper as he advanced up the beach and my father was wounded by shrapnel, although he fought on until ordered from the battlefield.
While working as an entrepreneur, my fervour for valour and gallantry medals grew, so much so that I hoped one day to own a VC. I particularly liked the egalitarian nature of the award, the fact that it could be awarded to men of all ranks and social classes, of all religions (and no religion) and to people of varied ethnic origin. It seemed to represent the best of qualities in a man (or woman) – courage, loyalty, duty, sacrifice and more besides.
My first purchase of a VC took place at auction in 1986 and since then I have gradually built the world’s largest collection of VCs, currently totalling more than 200 decorations. They are on display at a gallery bearing my name at the Imperial War Museum, London. I have also written seven books in the “heroes” series on courage, and I have written hundreds of articles on the subject for national newspapers and magazines. Furthermore, I sometimes lecture on gallantry, and I have my own website devoted to my work championing bravery.
I believe strongly that the “heritage” of the VC – its values and traditions – needs to be preserved from one generation to the next and publications such as “Victoria Cross: A Definitive Guide to Britain’s Supreme Gallantry Award Since 1856” help to achieve this. Throughout its long existence, the VC has, if anything, grown in stature and one of the reasons for this is the ability of the medal to move with the times.
The original 15 “rules and ordinances” of the decoration have certainly changed greatly since Queen Victoria instigated the VC by a Royal Warrant on January 29, 1856. At the time, the Queen wisely ignored the advice of those who wanted every VC to be engraved “For the brave”. Instead, Queen Victoria and her consort, Prince Albert, were astute enough to realise that such an inscription would imply that those who were not recipients of the VC were not brave. The alternative wording of simply “For Valour” was, and continues to be, far superior.
The decoration’s weaknesses have been ironed out over the decades and its strengths have been enhanced. It was certainly an initial failing of the VC that it was deemed for decades that it could not be awarded posthumously. However, from early in the 20th century onwards, and in the wake of the Second Anglo-Boer War, the award started to be awarded to those who had been killed while displaying incredible courage in battle. Hence the large number of posthumous VCs granted in the First World War, even though the VC warrant was not officially amended to permit posthumous awards until 1920.
I commend Warners Group Publications and the authors for their work in producing an informative and entertaining publication on the VC. It contains a wonderful mix of articles highlighting everything from acts of great gallantry to how this splendid decoration has evolved over time. Both the diligence of the research and the authors’ affection for the VC comes across on every single page.
Lord Ashcroft KCMG PC is an international businessman, philanthropist, author, and pollster. For more information on his work, visit www.lordashcroft.com. For his work on gallantry, visit www.lordashcroftonbravery.com. Follow him on X/Facebook @LordAshcroft.
■ Queen Victoria’s original Royal Warrant of 1856 for the institution of the Victoria Cross. As referred to in Lord Ashcroft’s foreword on the facing page, the warrant laid down fifteen ordinances governing the award of a Victoria Cross. In the intervening years, alterations have been made; for instance, in its original form the warrant did not allow for a posthumous award of the VC or for it to be awarded to women.