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 July issue of the magazine has a two-page write-up on the life and bravery of Acting Captain Arthur Henderson, who was awarded the Victoria Cross (VC) for outstanding bravery during the Great War.
Henderson, who was born in Paisley, Scotland, enlisted as a private in the 4th Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, after the outbreak of the war in August 1914.
He rose through the ranks to be appointed an acting captain in August 1916. In January 1917, he was awarded the Military Cross (MC) for his bravery in repelling an enemy attack on the Somme in July the previous year.
His VC was gazetted on July 5 1917 for courage south-east of Arras, France, on April 23 1917 when, despite having a badly wounded arm, he led a fierce attack on the enemy before being killed. Henderson was 23 when he died.
Lord Ashcroft’s articles for Britain at War over the past five years have been largely based on excerpts from his six books on gallantry: Victoria Cross Heroes, Special Forces Heroes, George Cross Heroes, Heroes of the Skies, Special Ops Heroes and Victoria Cross Heroes Volume II.
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 July issue of Britain at War which is on sale now.
