Imperial War Museum U-turns on decision to axe Victoria Cross display
The Imperial War Museum has backed down over plans to shut its gallery housing the world's largest collection of Victoria Crosses.
Lord Ashcroft had threatened to sue the trustees of the Imperial War Museum (IWM) over plans to close down his namesake gallery, which displays his £70 million collection of 230 Victoria Cross and George Cross medals.
The IWM has now agreed to delay the closure from June 1 until at least Sept 30, so the gallery could remain open for children during the summer holidays and for VJ (Victory over Japan) Day on Aug 15.
The billionaire businessman said in a statement on social media: 'Pleased to announce that the Imperial War Museum has now accepted that it must keep the Lord Ashcroft Gallery open until the end of September.
'This will mean that school children, summer visitors to London and others can enjoy my unique collection of over 200 Victoria Cross and George Cross decorations until VJ Day and beyond.'
The Lord Ashcroft Gallery was opened in 2010 following a £5 million donation from the life peer.
'Short-sighted' decision making
The museum had announced earlier this year that the gallery would close to make way for exhibits exploring post-Second World War conflicts, including the Falklands, Iraq and Afghanistan, which it says are 'less well represented'.
The IWM said it would display its own, far smaller, collection of medals but return the entirety of Lord Ashcroft's collection to him.
The Telegraph understands that Lord Ashcroft has been unable to find a suitable vault to contain the collection and had asked that the museum provide a suitable location in the meantime, threatening legal action if they do not.
Lord Ashcroft met with living recipients of the medals at the gallery last week as part of an annual reunion for members of the Victoria Cross and George Cross Association.
He said the meeting had made him determined to keep the gallery open for the complete duration of his agreement with the museum.
The IWM's decision to keep the gallery open until September has been welcomed by supporters of the collection.
Baroness Jenkin of Kennington said: 'Thank goodness the IWM have seen sense. The Lord Ashcroft Gallery contains much of our military history and an opportunity for the next generation to learn about the amazing people who won the VC.'
The pending closure had previously attracted criticism from veterans and politicians, who said the sacrifice and heroism of Britain's bravest soldiers risked being forgotten.
Christopher Finney, who became the youngest-ever recipient of the George Cross after he was injured rescuing several of his comrades from American aircraft 'friendly fire' in Iraq in 2003, described the museum's decision as a 'misstep'.
The former L/Cpl of Horse in the Household Cavalry and chairman of the Victoria Cross and George Cross Association said: 'I think the general feeling is just one of disappointment, to have that closed down in such an iconic museum.
'I just feel it would be awful if they [the recipients] are forgotten from our collective consciousness.'
The 40-year-old added: 'It is perhaps a bit short-sighted, it just feels it is possibly a misstep.'
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