Lancashire Fusilier Victoria Crosses United for First Time at The Fusilier Museum

A special exhibition to commemorate 100 years since the end of the First World War recently opened at The Fusilier Museum, Bury.

The exhibition entitled - 18 for 18 tells the extraordinary stories of the eighteen Lancashire Fusiliers who were awarded the Victoria Cross during the First World War. It is the first time ever that 17 of the 18 VC’s has been on display in one place.

Sadly the 18th medal which belonged to Bertram Best Dunkley is still missing despite an international search to try and locate it earlier in the year. It is believed to still be in the UK, probably in private ownership following a private sale through Spinks Auction House, London in 1986 but its exact location hasn’t been confirmed.

The Victoria Cross is the highest medal awarded for gallantry in the British and Commonwealth Armed Forces and recognises extreme bravery. During the First World War the Lancashire Fusiliers won eighteen Victoria Crosses, more than any other British infantry regiment.

The museum has five of the VC’s in its collection, eight are being kindly loaned to the museum from Lord Ashcroft’s private collection which is the largest collection of its kind in the world. A further three of the medals remain with the families of the VC winners and are being privately loaned to the museum for the duration of the exhibition as well as the Marshall VC which is being loaned from The Guards Museum in London.

18 for 18 includes all eighteen stories and a replica set of medals will be in place for Best-Dunkley until the missing VC is found.  It also includes the famous 6VC’s before breakfast which were won by six Lancashire Fusiliers as part of the Gallipoli campaign on the 25th April 1915.

Brian Gorski, Chairman of The Fusilier Museum, said: “We are delighted to open this exciting exhibition to commemorate the 100 year anniversary since the end of the First World War. It will be the first time in history that all of the VCs have been together in one place so it’s a really important piece of history for the museum and the town of Bury. We are of course disappointed that we haven’t managed to find the missing 18th medal but we are determined to find it and reunite it with the others in this once in a lifetime exhibition.”

The exhibition which has been funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund is now open to the general public from Saturday 6th October – 13th December 2018. During October the museum will also be open on Sundays to ensure everyone who would like to visit has the opportunity to do so.

The Fusilier Museum in Bury, Lancashire, is home to the collections of XX The Lancashire Fusiliers and the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers. Documenting over 300 years of history and heritage through permanent and temporary exhibitions, the Museum tells the rich and fascinating stories of the people who have served and continue to service in the Regiments.

For further media information contact Gini Wilde on 07967019099 or email gini.wilde@fusiliermuseum.com