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 June edition of the magazine has a four-page write-up on the life and courage of Lieutenant Colonel Stuart Archer GC OBE ERD.
At 99 years old, “Archie” Archer is the oldest living recipient of the George Cross (GC), Britain and the Commonwealth’s most prestigious gallantry award for bravery not in the face of the enemy.
By early in the Second World War, he had tackled well over 200 explosive devices, including those with complex delayed-action fuses that were designed to kill and maim. His GC was announced on September 30 1941.
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. However, Archer’s medal group is not part of his collection.
Lord Ashcroft’s article appears in the June 2014 issue of Britain at War, which is on sale now.
