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 May edition of the magazine has a two-page write-up on the life and bravery of Lieutenant Commander (later Rear Admiral) Edward Boyle, who was awarded the Victoria Cross (VC) during the Great War.
Boyle showed immense courage and skill as the commander of HMS E14, one of three submarines sent to the Dardanelles in March 1915. In late April, he reached the Sea of Marmara where he played a daring game of “cat and mouse” with the enemy.
His biggest success came on May 10 when he sank a transport ship carrying a cargo of field guns and 6,000 troops bound for Gallipoli before escaping from an area swarming with enemy ships. He was in command of only the second British submarine to penetrate the Narrows and the first to make it safely back. Boyle’s VC was announced on May 21.
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 May issue of Britain at War which is on sale now.
