LONDON, March 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Lord Ashcroft’s collection of Victoria Crosses and George Crosses is to have a new home at the National Army Museum in London.
The collection is the largest of its kind in the world. It was built by Lord Ashcroft over the last 40 years and includes almost 250 VCs and a smaller number of GCs. It was previously held at the Imperial War Museum in London, which closed the Lord Ashcroft Gallery in September last year after 15 years.
Lord Ashcroft today expressed his delight at the news: “I am delighted to have found such a superb home for this unique collection of bravery medals. I am so happy that these VCs and GCs, covering many major wars and conflicts of the last two centuries, are now being appreciated by the public again.
“The National Army Museum shares my passion for the decorations themselves and also for telling the incredible stories of bravery that accompany them. I look forward to a long and happy partnership with the Museum for many years to come.”
Justin Maciejewski, Director of the National Army Museum, said: “We are honored to be entrusted with these VCs and GCs from the Lord Ashcroft Medal Collection. We are grateful to Lord Ashcroft for his continued generosity and commitment to championing these stories of extraordinary courage.
“The National Army Museum shares the history and legacy of our soldiers around the world and over the centuries. In this broader narrative, these medals, and the individual acts of extraordinary bravery and bravery they represent, constitute an important part of the Army’s history.
Chris Finney, Trustee of the National Army Museum and President of the VC and GC Association, said: “This rare and extensive collection spans centuries of military service, sacrifice and extraordinary bravery across the armed forces.
“We are privileged to have the opportunity to share these medals – and the inspiring personal stories they represent – with visitors and online with the general public, where they can continue to inspire people of all ages for generations to come.
Lord Ashcroft began his coin collection in 1986 with the purchase of a single group of medals at auction. The VC, instituted by Queen Victoria in 1856, is Britain and the Commonwealth’s most prestigious decoration for bravery in the presence of the enemy. The GC, established by George VI in 1940, is Britain and the Commonwealth’s most prestigious decoration for bravery outside the presence of the enemy and has been awarded to several civilians for acts of bravery.
Lord Ashcroft’s VC and GC are part of the wider Lord Ashcroft Medal Collection, which includes special forces decorations and medals for bravery in the skies and at sea. Lord Ashcroft’s long passion for gallantry awards was initially inspired by his late father, Eric, who, as a young officer, took part in the landings on 6 June 1944.
Lord Ashcroft’s VC collection includes one of only three VCs and Bars (the equivalent of two VCs) awarded in the last 170 years. This is the group of medals awarded to Captain Noël Chavasse VC & Bar, MC, a military doctor who served and was killed in the Great War.
Following the closure of the previous gallery, Lord Ashcroft has made its collection accessible digitally via its website. This new partnership with the National Army Museum will allow the public to tour the collection and be inspired by the remarkable stories they represent.
The VC and GC collection will be on display at the National Army Museum for the next two years. In the meantime, from July, some of Lord Ashcroft’s medals will be on display at the museum, including in temporary exhibitions.
As the home of Army history and heritage, the National Army Museum will display items from the Lord Ashcroft Medal Collection alongside its existing collections of objects, archives and artwork, telling the stories of soldiers and their service, including the origins of the Victoria Cross during the Crimean War.
Lord Ashcroft’s VC and GC will be shared on a long-term loan with the National Army Museum. Alongside their exhibition, the Museum is planning a program of exhibitions, educational resources, talks, tours and digital content exploring the human stories of courage behind the decorations.
Further details of the new partnership between Lord Ashcroft and the National Army Museum regarding the exhibition of its VC and GC collection will be released over the coming months.
NOTE TO EDITORS
For more information on Lord Ashcroft’s work, visit:
- LordAshcroft.com
- LordAshcroftMedalCollection.com
- Follow Lord Ashcroft on X and Facebook @LordAshcroft
Join the conversation on:
- X: @NAM_London
- Facebook: facebook.com/NationalArmyMuseum
- Instagram: @nam_london
More information about the Museum:
Hours of operation :
Tuesday to Sunday
10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Address:
National Army Museum, Royal Hospital Road, London, SW3 4HT
Website:
nam.ac.uk
National Army Museum
The National Army Museum shares the history and heritage of our soldiers and their service in the military, around the world and over the centuries. Through our collections, we explore the history of the Army from its origins to the present day. Our goal is to engage and inspire everyone with the stories of our Soldiers and how their service shapes our world; past, present and future.
SOURCE Lord Ashcroft
