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 issue of the magazine has four pages on the life and career of Corporal Arthur Hutt, who was awarded the Victoria Cross (VC) in the rank of private for outstanding gallantry during the First World War.
Athur Hutt was born in Earlsdon, Coventry, in February 1889. After leaving school, he worked for Courtaulds, the major manufacturer of clothing and fabrics. When a Territorial Force company, part of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment, was set up at Courtaulds, Hutt enlisted in 1909.
After the outbreak of the Great War in 1914, he was in France where he served on the Somme and, later, along the Ypres Salient in Belgium. Hutt’s VC action took place on October 4 1917, near Ypres, as the British sought to push towards Passchendaele.
“A” Company, including Hutt’s No. 2 Platoon, of the 7th Battalion, The Royal Warwickshire Regiment, took such heavy casualties that day that all its officers and NCOs were either killed or wounded.
After assessing the situation, Hutt decided to press on and soon 46 German soldiers surrendered to him. After eventually making a tactical withdrawal, Hutt went out to rescue four of his own wounded men despite a heavy enemy fire.
Hutt’s VC was announced in The London Gazette on November 26 1917 and he was later presented with his VC by George V. He survived the war but died after a long illness in April 1954, aged 65.
Today his medal group belongs to Worcestershire Medal Service Ltd, having been bought in 2023 for an undisclosed sum by Phil McDermott, the company’s chairman and CEO. Mr McDermott kindly helped with Lord Ashcroft’s “hero of the month” article.
Lord Ashcroft’s articles for Britain at War over the past 13 years have often been 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.
- Lord Ashcroft’s latest article appears in the May issue of Britain at War which is on sale now.
