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 November issue of the magazine has four pages on the life and career of Lieutenant-Commander Dennis Arthur Copperwheat GC, who was awarded the George Cross for bravery during the Second World War.
Copperwheat, who was born in Raunds, Northamptonshire, joined the Royal Navy in 1929 but in 1941 he began training as a torpedo and explosives specialist.
He was awarded the GC for bravery on the besieged island Malta in March 1942 after two relief ships had arrived in Valletta harbour only to be bombed by enemy planes.
One of the ships, which was just 40 yards from the shore, burst into flames. Copperwheat, then in the rank of Lieutenant, moved quickly to scuttle the ship. He sent the rest of his men away from the ship but he remained to detonate the charges even though ammunition was already exploding close to him. He averted a crisis, saved the harbour, most of the ammunition and also many lives. His GC was announced in November 1942.
Copperwheat remained in the Royal Navy after the war, eventually retiring in the rank of Lieutenant Commander in 1957. After working in a firm of insurance brokers and, later, as a timber specialist, he eventually married four time. He died at Weekley, near Kettering, Northamptonshire, on September 8, 1992, aged, 78.
Lord Ashcroft’s articles for Britain at War for the past 11 years have been largely based on excerpts from his seven books on gallantry: Victoria Cross Heroes, Special Forces Heroes, George Cross Heroes, Heroes of the Skies, Special Ops Heroes, Victoria Cross Heroes Volume II and Falklands War Heroes.
Lord Ashcroft is a military historian who has lectured extensively on courage and his various medal collections.
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