Lord Ashcroft KCMG PC has had his latest “hero of the month” article published in Britain at War, the country’s best-selling military history monthly magazine.
The June edition of the magazine has a two-page write-up on the life and bravery of Brigadier George Roupell, who was awarded the Victoria Cross (VC) for courage during the Great War.
As part of an astonishing military career that spanned both world wars, Roupell was awarded the VC for his actions at Hill 60, near Ypres, Belgium, while still a young lieutenant. He showed outstanding bravery in April 1915 during heavy fighting for the right to control an observation platform.
After seizing Hill 60 on April 17, the British were faced with a fierce German counter-attack. Roupell and his men fended off one assault after another over 33 hours of fighting that left him with eight wounds. He eventually recovered from his injuries and was awarded his VC on June 23 1915 when his citation said that he had showed “a magnificent example of courage, devotion and tenacity, which undoubtedly inspired his men to hold out til the end.”
Lord Ashcroft’s articles for Britain at War over the past three years have been largely based on excerpts from four of his books on gallantry: Victoria Cross Heroes, Special Forces Heroes, George Cross Heroes and Heroes of the Skies. His fifth bravery book, Special Ops Heroes, was published in November 2014.
For the foreseeable future, Lord Ashcroft’s “hero of the month” articles will concentrate on men who were awarded the VC during the First World War.
Lord Ashcroft is a military historian who has lectured extensively on courage and his various medal collections.
- Lord Ashcroft’s latest article appears in the June issue of Britain at War which is on sale now.
