Lord Ashcroft: A virtual tour of my VC and GC collection is open, and has been warmly received by the public

Lord Ashcroft KCMG PC is an international businessman, philanthropist, author and pollster. For more information on his work, visit lordashcroft.com

The positive response from the public to my new 3D virtual tour of the former Lord Ashcroft Gallery has been heart-warming, coming just weeks after the real thing was shut down by the Imperial War Museum, London.

The virtual tour was unveiled on Tuesday – appropriately enough Armistice Day – and it has already been enjoyed by thousands of people all around the world. The new tour of the renamed “Lord Ashcroft VC & GC Gallery” went live on a new website that will showcase the world’s largest collection of Victoria Crosses and, eventually, my entire collection of gallantry medals.

Friends and strangers alike have messaged me by email, WhatsApp, texts and X (formerly Twitter) to say how much they have enjoyed the virtual tour. “Hello, I thought this was a brilliant idea & I’ve just been taking a look – it’s wonderful!” said one X user.

“I spent several hours going through the virtual tour yesterday. Totally fascinating,” tweeted another well-wisher.

“Shame on the IWM for evicting your collection from the space, these men made the supreme sacrifice and deserve recognition,” tweeted another visitor to the new website.

Over the last four decades, I have amassed more than 240 VCs, along with a smaller collection of George Crosses (GCs). The two medals are Britain and the Commonwealth’s most prestigious gallantry awards.

My VC and GC collection had been on display for the past 15 years at the gallery bearing my name until September 30 when the “Imperial Woke Museum”, as critics have dubbed the IWM, booted it out.

It was only, however, when I discovered quite how many other people were equally distraught at this decision that I resolved to do something to counter the loss of the gallery. My thanks go to those who have worked so hard over recent weeks to create such an impressive virtual tour.

The virtual tour tells hundreds of inspirational tales of courage.

My medal collections span most of the major wars and conflicts from the past 170 years going back to the Crimean War – the bitter conflict that eventually led to the creation of the VC. My medal collection includes one of only three VCs and Bars – the equivalent of two VCs – that have been awarded since the decoration was created by Queen Victoria in 1856 to recognise outstanding valour in the presence of the enemy.

Whereas the IWM will in future highlight diversity and other woke subjects, my new website will champion courage, particularly the recipients of the VC and the GC, those exceptional men and women whom I like to refer to as “the bravest of the brave”.

The virtual tour is the highlight of a new website: LordAshcroftMedalCollection.com. This will eventually contain information on all items in my various medal collections. As well as being the custodian of so many VC and GC medal groups, I have also amassed a formidable Special Forces medal collection and decorations for gallantry in the air.

I am continuing to explore several options to allow my collection of VCs and GCs, and possibly my other medal collections, to go on public display again. I want these medal groups to be enjoyed by as many people as possible over the decades ahead, not stuck in a secure vault, unseen by the public.

Any developments relating to new exhibitions of the medals will be announced on my new website so watch this space.