The Imperial War Museum (IWM) is facing criticism from Lord Ashcroft after the institution closed its long-running gallery of Victoria Cross medals and launched a new virtual tour focused on LGBTQ+ histories.
The upper floor of the museum previously housed what was described as the world’s largest collection of Victoria Crosses—more than 200 medals owned by Ashcroft and loaned to the institution for 15 years. The gallery, opened in 2010 after a £5 million donation from the Tory peer, was permanently closed in June. The collection has since been returned to Ashcroft, who said he had not been informed in advance of the museum’s decision.
Ashcroft accused the museum of sidelining stories of military gallantry in favour of contemporary themes, stating on X that the new LGBTQ+ tour was “part of the reason” the medals were “kicked out.”
The virtual tour—Refracted Histories: Exploring LGBTQ+ Stories in Times of Conflict—highlights accounts ranging from drag performances in POW camps to Enid Mary Barraud, a land girl who went by the name John. The museum said the trail aims to expand visibility of LGBTQ+ narratives across its collection and uses objects already on display; no items were removed to make way for it.
In a statement on its website, the IWM said the initiative “redirects traditional narratives to reveal a broader spectrum of human experiences” and reflects a commitment to representing “diverse experiences that reflect the world around us.” The museum also said it plans to use the former Ashcroft Gallery space to broaden its coverage of conflicts after the Second World War.
