The E-Sylum:  Volume 10, Number 50, December 9, 2007, Article 27

VICTORIA CROSS COLLECTOR: LORD ASHCROFT

[A article published this week about the recent theft of
rare medals from a New Zealand museum mentions the collector
who's been buying a number of them recently - Lord Ashcroft
of England.  Here are excerpts from that article, followed
by information on Ashcroft and his collection.  -Editor]

"The stolen military medals are worth millions and include
9 Victoria Crosses among which is the museum's pride and joy
- Charles Upham's VC and bar.

"But there are suspicions that because of the swift nature
of the raid, inside knowledge may have been a factor. It
appeared to be timed to miss a security guard on his rounds.

"Customs is on the lookout for the stolen medals should the
thieves attempt to take them from the country.  Medal expert
John Mowbray has no doubt that the medals are bound for
overseas.

"'I don't know of anyone in New Zealand who is collecting
medals at that level, that would want to do such a despicable
thing,' says Mowbray. 'After all we're talking about our
heritage here.'

"Mowbray says that there are very few people who buy such
rare and valuable medals.

"'There have been 59 VC medals sold in the last ten years
world wide, and of those 59, 42 of them have been bought
by one person, that's Lord Ashcroft in England,' he explained... "

To read the complete article, see:
Full Story

"Exactly twenty years ago Michael Ashcroft bought his
first Victoria Cross, that of Leading Seaman James Magennis,
believing it to be a one-off. Today the Michael Ashcroft Trust,
which was established to care for and protect the VC collection,
now owns 146 Victoria Cross groups, just over a tenth of the
1357 VCs that have been awarded to individuals since 1856. It
is by far the largest collection of Victoria Crosses in the
world. The trust has plans to open its collection to the public
when a suitable location can be found."

For more information on Lord Ashcroft's Victoria Cross collection, see:
www.victoriacross.org.uk/vvashcro.htm

For more information on the Victoria Cross, see:
www.victoriacross.org.uk

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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