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 October issue of the magazine has four pages on the life and career of Major Michael “Bronco” Lane, a true SAS legend following a quite remarkable military career.
Lane, who was born in Manchester, joined the SAS in 1967, six years after enlisting in the Royal Artillery in his home city. In 1976, aged 30, he took part in the Army Mountaineering Association’s expedition to Mount Everest.
On the way down from the summit, the party encountered not just a “white out” but some of the worst weather conditions under which the mountain has ever been climbed. Lane lost the ends of four fingers and a thumb on one hand and all ten toes to frostbite.
Astonishingly, Lane continued his military career and was awarded the Military Medal (MM) for bravery during a shoot-out with IRA gunmen in 1979, just three years after he had nearly died on Everest.
His SAS career eventually spanned more than 18 years and he left the Army in the rank of major. Today Lane is 74 years old and lives with his second wife, Sue, in Herefordshire.
Lord Ashcroft’s articles for Britain at War over the past six 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.
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 October issue of Britain at War which is on sale now.
