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 April edition of the magazine has a two-page write-up on the life and bravery of Commander (later Captain) Henry Ritchie, who was awarded the Victoria Cross (VC) for bravery during the Great War.
Ritchie was awarded the second Royal Navy VC of the war, although his was in fact the first Royal Navy action. He showed outstanding bravery in November 1914 during the attack on the Dar es Salaam, then the capital of Germany’s East African empire.
Ritchie, who received eight separate wounds during 25 minutes of fighting, was awarded the VC on April 10 1915, when his citation praised his “fortitude and resolution”, and said he had inspired all by setting an example.
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 April issue of Britain at War which is on sale now.