The Imperial War Museum has made a terrible error over its VC gallery
By relegating these symbols of bravery and sacrifice to storage, the museum dishonours the memory of the people who earned them and denies visitors a vital connection to Britain's military heritage. The excuse of creating 'new galleries' for post-Second World War conflicts is flimsy at best, and reeks of pandering to ideological trends. By apparently failing to clarify its plans to Lord Ashcroft in good time, the museum also showed a shocking lack of respect.
These medals are not just artefacts – they represent the essence of our national identity and ideals of service. The museum must reverse its decision and continue to honour those who fought for our freedoms.
Jeremy Stone
Hong Kong
SIR – I was greatly saddened to read that the Imperial War Museum is to close the Lord Ashcroft Gallery.
My ancestor Robert Blair won the VC during the Indian Mutiny at Bulandshahr in 1857; earlier this year I went to see his medal, which is in the collection.
I thought all the medals and accompanying details were beautifully and sensitively displayed, and found the whole experience highly informative.
I sincerely hope that a new venue can soon be found so that others can enjoy this wonderful exhibition.
Robin Lane
Devizes, Wiltshire
SIR – As someone who is unashamedly proud of the history and achievements of this nation, I am appalled at the Imperial War Museum's decision.
I can only imagine there was discomfort about some of the people behind these heroic acts, as well as the period in which many of the medals were awarded. The 'imperial' in the museum's name is surely on borrowed time, too. It will be interesting to see what exactly replaces this substantial collection.
The trustees should bear in mind that the medals were won by people from all walks of life, united simply by a willingness to sacrifice themselves for the benefit of others. They are a magnificent leveller.
William Furner
Fakenham, Norfolk
SIR – Perhaps Lord Ashcroft, who kindly loaned his collection to the Imperial War Museum for 15 years, would consider allowing the medals to be displayed in regimental museums in the areas from which their brave recipients came. This would give local people and schoolchildren the opportunity to learn about the courageous and selfless actions that helped to preserve our freedom.
J E Kelly
Horwich, Lancashire
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Daily Mirror
8 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Plucky dog sentenced to death after saving British soldiers' lives in brutal prison camp
Judy the pointer became the only animal to be recognised as a prisoner of war during WWII - and she managed to save multiple lives with her plucky spirit The medal citation is simple but powerful: 'For magnificent courage and endurance in Japanese Prison Camps... and for saving many lives.' But the honour does not belong to one of the brave troops who battled in the Far East campaign of WWII but to a dog. Judy the pointer was the only animal to be officially recognised as a prisoner of war in the conflict, and one of a handful to receive the Dickin Medal, the animal equivalent of the Victoria Cross. It comes after a mum claimed 'I accidentally named baby after dog food brand and I don't know what to do'. Now, ahead of the 80th commemorations of VJ Day on August 15, her incredible story of capture, survival and courage is being brought to life for the next generation in a new book. War Dog, by children's author Tom Palmer, charts Judy's astonishing life-saving heroics and stands as testimony to the love and loyalty of our canine companions, even in the most difficult of circumstances. 'There are still stories to be uncovered about the war and Judy's is utterly fascinating,' says Tom, a dad-of-one and dog owner from Halifax, West Yorks, who has written more than 60 children's books. 'What she did is unbelievable. It feels almost made-up but it's totally true. There are contemporaneous accounts from former PoWs who were with her in Japan and saw her actions with their own eyes. 'I want the book to show how animals bring hope in difficult times. I also want it to try to explain conflict. War is difficult for children to grasp. But understanding its significance helps them make sense of what's happening today.' Judy' story began in Shanghai in 1936 where she was born as part of a litter of seven in kennels used by Europeans expats. She was subsequently bought by the Royal Navy as a ship's mascot for HMS Gnat, part of the defence fleet in the Far East. Animals would often be adopted by warship crews to help with pest control and to boost morale. Judy proved a popular addition, alerting the crew to the presence of river pirates trying to board in the darkness. She and some crew later served on HMS Grasshopper and it was here she found herself at the outbreak of war against Japan in December 1941. As Allied forces retreated, the vessel was bombed by Japanese aircraft and troops were forced to abandon ship. It was now that the dog's resourcefulness showed, and her first life-saving act occurred. Marooned briefly in an uninhabited island without water, members of the crew were saved after Judy located a freshwater spring from which to drink. She and her human comrades headed for Sumatra hoping to unite with other fleeing Allied forces but the move was in vain. The troops had already left. Having survived a jungle alligator attack, Judy and her crew were immediately taken as prisoners of war by Japanese forces. 'Conditions in the camps were horrendous,' explains Imperial War Museum curator Simon Offord. 'It was hot, humid and diseases such as malaria, typhus and dysentery were rife. 'Japan had not signed up to the Geneva Convention so food was scarce and any infraction was met with punishment – beatings and even executions. 'There is a reason why many of those who returned chose not to talk about their experience afterwards.' Within days of capture, the British men and their dog were billeted in Medan in north Sumatra and Judy met the man who would become her lifetime companion, Leading Aircraftman Frank Williams. In a later interview, Frank recalled: 'I remember thinking, 'What on earth is a beautiful pointer doing here with no-one to care for her?' I realised that even though she was thin, she was a survivor.' Frank, originally from Portsmouth, began sharing his meagre meals of boiled rice with Judy. He also managed to persuade his captors to register her as a PoW so she could have her own rations. She repaid his kindness, and that of his comrades, in spades, fighting off snakes and scorpions in the camp and hunting for rabbits to eat. Judy helped lift morale, barking and growling to distract Japanese guards when they were meting out punishments, often putting herself in danger. Simon says: 'There is a special relationship, I think, between animals and humans in theatres of war. They undergo the same dangers and privations,' reflects Simon. By mid 1944, the PoWs were being moved from Medan to Singapore but there was a problem, dogs were not allowed on board the transfer ship. Undeterred, Frank taught Judy how to jump into a sack and stay perfectly still. She spent three hours in silence on his back as he and his comrades were forced to stand on deck in searing heat. But their problems were only just beginning. The ship, packed with 700 troops, was torpedoed. More than 500 men died. Frank survived but pushed Judy out of a porthole to save her. It was later reported the dog was spotted trying to help the floundering men around her, pushing pieces of wood towards non-swimmers. Frank was captured, yet astonishingly man and dog were reunited a month later at a camp in Singapore, Judy having been pulled out of the water by a fellow survivor. He recalled: 'I couldn't believe my eyes. I'd never been so glad to see the old girl. And I think she felt the same!' The pair, together with thousands of others, spent the next year cutting through the jungle to lay railway tracks. It was Judy's job to warn of approaching tigers. She regularly escaped being shot at by guards and was finally sentenced to death. She fled into the jungle, reappearing days later when, with the war nearing its end, Japanese forces abandoned the camp. Judy was smuggled back to the UK on board a troopship. She was awarded the Dickin medal in 1946. The full citation reads: 'For magnificent courage and endurance in Japanese prison camps, which helped to maintain morale among her fellow prisoners and also saving many lives through her intelligence and watchfulness.' She spent the following months with Frank visiting and bringing comfort to relatives of PoWs who had not survived. She remained by Frank's side until the day she died in 1950 and was buried in her RAF jacket with her campaign medals: the Pacific Star, Defence Medal and 1939-1945 Star. Her collar and Dickin medal are held by the Imperial War Museum. A bronze statue of Judy is now part of the National Military Working Dogs Memorial in Holywell, North Wales. Simon, author of the book Animals in Wartime, said: 'There were 16 million animals who took part in WWI when every gun, every ambulance had to be moved by horse. Even in WWII, pigeons were used by the RAF. Bomber aircraft carried them in pairs so if the crew was shot down, the birds could fly back to raise the alert. 'Judy's story is remarkable. It exemplifies the inscription on every Dickin medal: 'We Also Serve'.' War Dog, written by Tom Palmer and illustrated by Carolina Rabei, is out on August 14, published by Scholastic.
Telegraph
4 days ago
- Telegraph
Is it time to forgive kamikaze pilots? This documentary thinks so
The idea of Second World War kamikaze pilots as brainwashed fanatics, willingly going to their deaths, is a pervasive one. And there is an element of truth in it, because the Japanese population was certainly taught that this was the ultimate, glorious sacrifice. Teachers drummed into primary school children that these 'divine hawks' were to be revered. Yet Kamikaze: An Untold History (BBC Four), a sombre, Japanese-made film which takes a wholly compassionate view, shows the reality. Ordered to carry out suicide missions on the US fleet, or pressured to volunteer, they had little choice but to accept their task in a society where conformity was everything. Behind the last letters home, in which they told their families that they were proud to be dying for their country, lay a truth that could not be spoken. An elderly lady, remembering the older brother whose first combat mission was also his last, said: 'In the end, he gave up and accepted his fate. That's how he must have felt – that it was inescapable.' While the pilots did feel a special kind of pride, that did not mean they were without fear. They hid that fear in the moments before they went into battle. An airman tasked with escorting the squadron towards their target recalls a 'ghastly atmosphere' in the dormitory the night before a mission, 'but when dawn broke and they went to the airfield, they left that all behind and appeared happy. They went cheerfully. They didn't want others to see any self-doubt or distress.' The 90-minute documentary lays out the facts and figures – close to 4,000 pilots died on kamikaze missions, with an average age of 21, some of them the products of elite naval and military academies, others recent university graduates – and explains the strategy. Japan was losing the war but believed that inflicting as much damage as possible would constitute a late show of strength and secure them more favourable terms. An unconditional surrender would damage the Emperor's position. A pilot remembered his squadron being summoned to a briefing room and given the news. 'The commander said the war situation was so bad that we had to conduct kamikaze attacks. He told us that it was our only chance at victory. At that moment, I thought my life was over. They were asking us to sacrifice our lives.' The stories of the kamikaze pilots are told through letters, photographs and the recollections of their relatives. There are other interviews, conducted at least a decade ago, with pilots who were not selected. Some of these were passed over because they had scored highest on tests, and high command did not want to waste the lives of the brightest. Volunteers were asked to indicate in writing how deeply they wished to be a kamikaze: they could say 'desire', 'strongly desire' or 'negative'. A historian looks over these records, and sees that some wrote 'desire' in the smallest script, a desperate way to indicate their reluctance. But very few said no. A man recalled playing rock, paper, scissors with a fellow pilot for the one kamikaze flight leaving that day. He was disappointed to lose. 'Looking back, I can't believe I volunteered,' he said, 'but at the time I felt trapped. Maybe that's the psychology behind suicide. I was suffocating.' An American survivor of a kamikaze attack, who volunteered for the US Navy shortly after Pearl Harbor, is one of the few non-Japanese interviewees. He was aboard the USS Ommaney Bay when it was attacked off the coast of the Philippines in January 1945. 'I don't have no grudge against nobody. They were ordered to go,' he says of the kamikaze. I'd wager that some other US veterans would have been less forgiving, but this is a film in which all the sympathy lies in one place.
Daily Record
24-07-2025
- Daily Record
Ayrshire war hero awarded Provost's Medal at 107 years old
Harry Richardson, a bomber pilot during the Second World War, was presented with the Provost's Medal by Iain Campbell, Provost of South Ayrshire. An Ayrshire war hero has been presented with the Provost's Medal at the age of 107 - some 80 years after taking to the skies during the Second World War. Harry Richardson was a bomber pilot during the war and earned a Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) for his bravery and his airmanship during his service. Provost Iain Campbell presented the medal to Harry in a ceremony in County Buildings, Ayr. The Provost's Medal recognises national or international achievement at the highest level for people who were born in or are residents of South Ayrshire. In the last 13 years, the medal has only been awarded on one other occasion. Local hero Harry, who was a bomber pilot during World War 2 serving from 1939 to 1947, celebrated his 107th birthday in Prestwick in February. During his RAF career, Harry was posted to 149 Squadron. Upon completion of this tour, he transferred to training bomber pilots. Harry then moved to India and the Far East with 159 Squadron. At the end of the war, he assisted with the repatriation of Prisoners of War. Harry then joined the National Air Traffic Service as an Air Traffic Controller, where he successfully climbed through the ranks, assisting in the planning of the Air Traffic Service over the Atlantic. Earlier this year, he was honoured during the 80th anniversary of VE Day and was present at the VE Day 80 concert at Horse Guards Parade in London, sitting next to King Charles III and Queen Camilla. In addition to the Provost's Medal, Harry was also given the Lord Lieutenant Award. This award was presented to him by Lord Lieutenant Iona McDonald. The civic ceremony was attended by Harry Richardson DFC and his family, alongside Alex Lobban, Chair of the Royal Air Forces Association (RAFA) Club Ayr & Prestwick Branch; and Sqn Ldr James Martin 602 (City of Glasgow) Sqn RAuxAF. Speaking humbly after the presentation, Harry said: 'Thank you very much for this award which I shall treasure for the rest of my life.' Provost Campbell said: 'The Provost's Medal is a significant and rare honour, reserved for only the greatest of achievements. I'm delighted to be able to bestow this honour upon Harry Richardson. 'Harry's dedication to his country is already well-known. The Distinguished Flying Cross is just one of the accolades he has achieved for his admirable bravery during his service. 'It was my absolute pleasure to welcome Harry, his loved ones and esteemed guests to County Buildings to recognise his outstanding achievements.' Lord Lieutenant Iona McDonald said: 'Harry is a remarkable man who along with many others served with distinction during the Second World War. I was delighted to present him with a Lord Lieutenant's certificate marking his contribution to the RAF and aviation.' Alex Lobban, Chair of the Royal Air Forces Association (RAFA) Club Ayr & Prestwick Branch, said: 'On behalf of Ayr & Prestwick Branch Royal Air Forces Association it was an honour and privilege to be present at the Award Ceremony for our member Harry Richardson DFC. Our appreciation goes to the Lord Lieutenant and Provost for their support of Harry.' Sqn Ldr James Martin 602 (City of Glasgow) Sqn RAuxAF said: 'It was a privilege to attend today's Civic Reception in Ayrshire, on behalf of Air Officer Scotland, in recognition of the extraordinary RAF service of Harry Richardson DFC. Our sincerest congratulations to Harry, on the receipt of the prestigious Award of the Provost Medal and Lord Lieutenant certificate, so richly deserved.'
