Bravery immortalised in history & memory

Celebrating extraordinary heroes through the world’s most remarkable gallantry medal collection.

Virtual Gallery Tour
Heroes
Behind every medal awarded for valour lies a moment when an ordinary person chose to face a life-threatening challenge. The Lord Ashcroft Medal Collection gathers the decorations, including Victoria Crosses and George Crosses, of individuals who are the “bravest of the brave”.
Tap image to find out more about each hero
John Edward Almonds
John Edward Almonds
Conflict: Second World War
Awards: Military Medal & Bar
Service: Army
Andrew Weatherby Beauchamp Proctor
Andrew Weatherby Beauchamp Proctor
Conflict: First World War
Awards: Victoria Cross, Distinguished Service Order, Military Cross & Bar, Distinguished Flying Cross
Service: Royal Air Force
Johnson Gideon Beharry
Johnson Gideon Beharry
Conflict: Second Gulf War
Awards: Victoria Cross
Service: Army
Bryan James Budd
Bryan James Budd
Conflict: Afghanistan
Awards: Victoria Cross
Service: Army
Captain Harry Cator
Captain Harry Cator
Conflict: First World War
Awards: Victoria Cross, Military Medal
Service: Army
John Rouse Merriott Chard
John Rouse Merriott Chard
Conflict: Zulu War
Awards: Victoria Cross
Service: Army
Noel Godfrey Chavasse
Noel Godfrey Chavasse
Conflict: First World War
Awards: Victoria Cross and Bar, Military Cross
Service: Army
Count Manfred Beckett Czernin
Count Manfred Beckett Czernin
Conflict: Second World War
Awards: Distinguished Service Order, Military Cross, Distinguished Flying Cross
Service: Royal Air Force
Geoffrey Heneage Drummond
Geoffrey Heneage Drummond
Conflict: First World War
Awards: Victoria Cross
Service: Royal Navy
Gaje Ghale
Gaje Ghale
Conflict: Second World War
Awards: Victoria Cross
Service: Indian Army
Arthur Frederick Pickard
Arthur Frederick Pickard
Conflict: Waikato War
Awards: Victoria Cross, Order of the Bath
Service: Army
James Henry Reynolds
James Henry Reynolds
Conflict: Zulu War
Awards: Victoria Cross
Service: Army
William Thomas Rickard
William Thomas Rickard
Conflict: Crimean War
Awards: Victoria Cross, Conspicuous Gallantry Medal
Service: Royal Navy
Ishar Singh
Ishar Singh
Conflict: Mahsud Rebellion
Awards: Victoria Cross, Order of British India, Royal Victorian Medal
Service: Indian Army
William Edward Sparks
William Edward Sparks
Conflict: Second World War
Awards: Distinguished Service Medal
Service: Royal Marines
Violette Reine Elizabeth Szabo
Violette Reine Elizabeth Szabo
Conflict: Second World War
Awards: George Cross
Service: Army
Sekonaia Takavesi
Sekonaia Takavesi
Conflict: Dhofar Rebellion
Awards: Distinguished Conduct Medal
Service: Army
Dominic Charles Rupert Troulan
Dominic Charles Rupert Troulan
Conflict: Northern Ireland, Peacetime, Nairobi
Awards: George Cross, Queen’s Gallantry Medal
Service: Civilian, late Royal Marines and Army
Bernard William Vann
Bernard William Vann
Conflict: First World War
Awards: Victoria Cross, Military Cross and Bar
Service: Army
Anthony John Gledhill
Anthony John Gledhill
Conflict: Peacetime, UK
Awards: George Cross
Service: Civilian (Metropolitan Police)
James Edgar 'Johnnie' Johnson
James Edgar 'Johnnie' Johnson
Conflict: Second World War
Awards: Order of the Bath, Order of the British Empire, Distinguished Service Order & 2 Bars, Distinguished Flying Cross & Bar
Service: Royal Air Force
Geoffrey Charles Tasker Keyes
Geoffrey Charles Tasker Keyes
Conflict: Second World War
Awards: Victoria Cross, Military Cross
Service: Army
James Harry 'Ginger' Lacey
James Harry 'Ginger' Lacey
Conflict: Second World War
Awards: Distinguished Flying Medal & Bar
Service: Royal Air Force
Michael 'Bronco' Lane
Michael 'Bronco' Lane
Conflict: Northern Ireland
Awards: Military Medal, British Empire Medal
Service: Army
William Leefe Robinson
William Leefe Robinson
Conflict: First World War
Awards: Victoria Cross
Service: Royal Flying Corps / Royal Air Force
Michal Karol Maciejowski
Michal Karol Maciejowski
Conflict: Second World War
Awards: Distinguished Flying Cross, Distinguished Flying Medal
Service: Royal Air Force
James Joseph Magennis
James Joseph Magennis
Conflict: Second World War
Awards: Victoria Cross
Service: Royal Navy
Edward Corringham Mannock
Edward Corringham Mannock
Conflict: First World War
Awards: Victoria Cross, Distinguished Service Order & 2 Bars, Military Cross & Bar
Service: Royal Flying Corps / Royal Air Force
John Thomas McAleese
John Thomas McAleese
Conflict: Northern Ireland, Iranian Embassy Siege
Awards: Military Medal
Service: Army
Ian John McKay
Ian John McKay
Conflict: Falklands War
Awards: Victoria Cross
Service: Army
Sir Anthony Cecil Capel Miers
Sir Anthony Cecil Capel Miers
Conflict: Second World War
Awards: Victoria Cross, Order of the British Empire, Order of the Bath, Distinguished Service Order & Bar
Service: Royal Navy
George Monk
George Monk
Conflict: Malayan Emergency
Awards: Military Medal
Service: Army
Brandon Moss
Brandon Moss
Conflict: Second World War
Awards: George Cross
Service: Civilian (Special Constabulary)
Peter Herlick Rene Naya
Peter Herlick Rene Naya
Conflict: Falklands War
Awards: Military Medal
Service: Army
Jeffrey Peter Niblett
Jeffrey Peter Niblett
Conflict: Falklands War
Awards: Distinguished Flying Cross
Service: Royal Marines
Adrian Warburton
Adrian Warburton
Conflict: Second World War
Awards: Distinguished Service Order & Bar, Distinguished Flying Cross & 2 Bars
Service: Royal Air Force
Thomas William Winter
Thomas William Winter
Conflict: Second World War
Awards: Military Medal
Service: Army
The Collection
Thousands of medals. Endless tales of heroism. One remarkable collection.

Lord Ashcroft’s fascination with bravery began in childhood, inspiring a lifelong passion for the stories behind the Victoria Cross, the George Cross and other gallantry medals. Over decades, he has built the world’s largest collection of VCs, alongside a rare and distinguished selection of GCs, not to own them for himself, but to preserve the legacy of the men and women they honour.

Virtual Gallery Tour
245
Victoria Crosses
46
George Crosses
72
Distinguished Service Orders
33
Conspicuous Gallantry Crosses
14
Distinguished Service Crosses
94
Military Crosses
85
Distinguished Flying Crosses
4606
Other Awards & Decorations
The Future
Lord Ashcroft is determined to open another gallery to champion these heroes and their extraordinary courage, ensuring their stories inspire future generations.
Sign up for updates on the Lord Ashcroft Medal Collection and to be among the first to hear about a new gallery celebrating these extraordinary heroes.