The Imperial War Museum London is set to close its war medal exhibition, the Lord Ashcroft Gallery, to make room for new galleries focusing on post-World War II conflicts. Established in 2010 with a substantial donation from Michael Ashcroft, the gallery showcases an impressive collection of around 200 Victoria Crosses spanning various wars from the Crimean to the Falklands conflicts. Additionally, it features 48 Victoria Crosses and 31 George Crosses already in possession of the museum.

Lord Ashcroft, who had initially intended to extend the loan of his collection to the museum with the intention of eventually bequeathing it, expressed disappointment over the closure. The decision to shut down the gallery is part of the museum’s strategy to revamp its upper floors to include narratives of post-World War II conflicts like the Cold War, the Falklands War, and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

While the museum reassured that Victoria Crosses and George Crosses will still be on display at its branches across the UK, integrated within galleries providing historical context, the move to close the Lord Ashcroft Gallery marks a shift towards representing a broader spectrum of conflicts, especially those post-World War II. This decision follows significant refurbishments to the museum’s exhibitions on the first and second world wars and the Holocaust.

IWM emphasized its commitment to sharing the stories of remarkable acts of bravery and sacrifice through the display of these prestigious medals. The upcoming development of new gallery spaces is aimed at enriching visitors’ understanding of conflicts within recent memory, ensuring a comprehensive portrayal of historical events. The closure of the Lord Ashcroft Gallery signifies a transition towards a more inclusive representation of conflicts in the museum’s exhibitions.

The institution expressed gratitude to Lord Ashcroft and other lenders for enabling the display of these significant medals over the years. The move to close the gallery is a strategic step towards broadening the museum’s narrative scope and offering visitors a more comprehensive insight into the complexities of post-World War II conflicts.