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 Lieutenant-Commander Geoffrey Saxton White, who was awarded the VC for bravery during the First World War.
White was one of only five submariners to be awarded the VC during the Great War and it marked the first and only time that the prestigious decoration was awarded to two different captains of the same submarine.
White, who was born in Bromley, Kent, was awarded the VC for acts of outstanding bravery in January 1918 when, as commander of HMS E14, he went in pursuit of the enemy warship Goeben in the Dardanelles.
However, after attacking a Turkish merchant ship, his submarine was rocked by a massive explosion. He dived and made a brave attempt to save E14 and her crew but was eventually forced to resurface. During another attack, the submarine was hit again and only nine of her 31-strong company survived.
White, who was killed aged 31, was awarded a posthumous VC on May 24 1919 and the citation praised his courageous attempt to save his crew.
Lord Ashcroft’s articles for Britain at War over the past seven 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.
