See the April edition of Britain at War for Lord Ashcroft’s new bravery article

  • 1 April, 2014
  • Bravery
  • Britain at War
  • Medals

Lord Ashcroft KCMG PC has had his latest article published in his bravery series for Britain at War, the country’s best-selling military history monthly magazine.

The theme of the series is Lord Ashcroft’s “hero of the month” and the April edition of the magazine has a four-page write-up on the life and courage of Fusilier Derek Kinne.

Kinne was awarded the George Cross (GC) for astonishing courage and defiance during the Korean War. After being captured by Chinese communist forces in April 1951, he was subjected to 28 months of savage treatment.

Kinne survived a brutal and prolonged torture, thereby becoming known as “the man North Korea could not break”. He was released in August 1953 as part of an armistice between the two sides and was awarded the GC in April the following year. Today Kinne is 83 and lives in the US.

Lord Ashcroft is a military historian who had written four books on bravery over the past eight years. He has also lectured extensively on courage and his various medal collections.

His articles for the magazine are largely based on excerpts from Lord Ashcroft’s four books on gallantry: Victoria Cross Heroes, Special Forces Heroes, George Cross Heroes and Heroes of the Skies.

Furthermore, the vast majority of the write-ups are based on gallantry medals owned by Lord Ashcroft. As well as his unrivalled 183-strong VC collection, he has a major Special Forces’ medals’ collection and a substantial collection of decorations awarded for gallantry in the air.

In 2010, Lord Ashcroft also started collecting George Crosses (GCs) for the first time and currently possesses 14 such awards, although not the decoration awarded to Kinne.

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