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 March issue of the magazine has a two-page write-up on the life and bravery of Captain Arthur Kilby, who was awarded the Victoria Cross (VC) for courage during the Great War.
Kilby, who was born in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, had served with The South Staffordshire Regiment from 1905. Kilby, who had twice been wounded in action earlier in the war, was with his regiment near Cuinchy, France, on September 25 1915.
He led an attack by his men along a narrow towpath despite suffering from the effects of the Allies own failed gas attack. Despite being wounded in the hand, he pressed on under a terrifying enemy fire. Even when one of his feet was blown off, he still encouraged his men. Kilby, aged 30, was missing in action, presumed killed, and received a posthumous VC (on top of his earlier Military Cross).
Lord Ashcroft’s articles for Britain at War over the past four 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 March issue of Britain at War which is on sale now.
