The Ashcroft Gallery at Imperial War Museum

[Philip Wilson]

'The Evolution of the Victoria Cross - A study in Administrative History ' by M.J.Crook was published in 1975 by Midas Books in conjunction with the Ogiliby Trust. Since that date there has been a plethera of books on the Victoria Cross. Until 2006 there had been a degree of speculation as to just how many V.C.'s the Ashcroft Trust might have purchased and more particularly which V.C's - part of the answer can be found within the index to ' Victoria Cross Heroes' published in that year.

The long awaited Ashcroft Gallery has now been opened to the public and this clearly adds yet another dimension to the history of the Victoria Cross with its inter-active display. I look forward to visiting the Ashcroft Gallery on the 4th December and intend to concentrate on those V.C.s in the collection from inception to 1920.

Any members in this forum who care to join me on that day are welcome to do so.

Likewise I would welcome observations from those who have already been to the Gallery as to which V.C. awarded prior to 1903 caught their attention and why?

Philip