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 February edition of the magazine has a two-page write-up on the life and bravery of Major (later Major General) Ernest Alexander, who was awarded the Victoria Cross (VC) for bravery during the Great War.
Alexander, who was serving with the Royal Field Artillery, displayed great courage on August 24 1914 at Elouges, Belgium, during the retreat from Mons.
Against overwhelming odds, Alexander fought tenaciously so that no British guns were lost to the enemy as they were withdrawn by him and three comrades. Subsequently, Alexander also rescued a wounded man under a heavy fire. His VC was announced on February 18 1915.
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 on November 6 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 had written five books on bravery over the past nine years. He has also lectured extensively on courage and his various medal collections.
* Lord Ashcroft’s article appears in the February issue of Britain at War which is on sale now.
