The Tamesis
The Imperial War Museum (IWM) has faced criticism from Lord Ashcroft after it closed its long-running Victoria Cross Gallery and launched new virtual tours focusing on LGBTQ+ history.
The museum’s upper floors previously housed what was said to be the world’s largest collection of Victoria Cross medals, including more than 200 medals owned by Ashcroft and loaned to the institution for 15 years. The gallery, which opened in 2010 following a £5 million donation from the Conservative peer, closed permanently in June. The collection has now been returned to Ashcroft, who said he was not informed of the museum’s decision in advance.
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Ashcroft accused the museum of ignoring stories of military valor in favor of contemporary themes, saying on X that the new LGBTQ+ touring exhibition was “part of the reason” the medal was being “kicked out”.
Virtual tour——Refracted History: Exploring LGBTQ+ Stories in Times of Conflict——Highlights everything from drag performances in a prisoner of war camp to Enid Mary Barrow, a land girl named John. The museum said the purpose of the route was to expand the visibility of LGBTQ+ narratives in its collections and to use objects already on display; no objects were removed to make way for them.
In a statement on its website, IWM said the initiative “redirects traditional narratives to reveal a wider range of human experiences” and embodies a commitment to representation that “reflects the diverse experiences of the world around us.” The museum also said it plans to use the former Ashcroft Gallery space to expand coverage of the post-World War II conflict.
