Victoria Cross Heroes

Infobox Television
show_name = Victoria Cross Heroes


caption =
aka =
genre = Docudrama
creator =
writer = nowrap beginNicholas White·wrap Steven Clarke·wrap Mary McMurraynowrap end
director = nowrap beginNicholas White·wrap Steven Clarke·wrap Mary McMurraynowrap end
creat_director =
developer =
presenter = Charles, Prince of Wales
starring = nowrap beginMartin Delaney·wrap Tom Hiddleston·wrap Chris Rankinnowrap end
voices = Crispin Bonham-Carter
narrated = Kenneth Cranham
theme_composer =
opentheme =
endtheme =
composer = Tom Escott
country = UK
language = English
num_seasons =
num_episodes = 3
list_episodes =
distributor =
executive_producer = nowrap beginPeter Georgi·wrap Mark Sousternowrap end
co_exec =
producer = Steven Clarke
sup_producer =
asst_producer =
cons_producer =
co-producer =
editor =
story_editor =
location =
cinematography =
camera_setup =
runtime = 60 minutes
channel = Five
picture_format =
audio_format =
first_run =
first_aired = November 19
last_aired = December 3, 2006
preceded_by =
followed_by =
related =
website = http://www.five.tv/programmes/victoriacross/
prod_website = http://www.victoriacrossheroes.com/index.html
imdb_id = 0918370
tv_com_id =

"Victoria Cross Heroes" is a three-part television docudrama recipients first broadcast by Five in 2006 that tells the stories of some of the recipients of the Victoria Cross.

Production

The series was commissioned to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Victoria Cross in 2006.

It was produced in association with Lord Ashcroft and the Ashcroft VC Collection, which is the largest collection of its kind in the world.

Former British soldier and noted military historian Richard Holmes acted as historical advisor to the series.

Episodes

Episode one: "The Modern Age"

The Prince of Wales introduces the stories of some of the servicemen who have been awarded the Victoria Cross through the 60 years from World War II to the Iraq War, including the most recent recipient Pte. Johnson Beharry.

* RCAF Pilot Officer Andrew Mynarski lost his life attempting to rescue his friend from a burning Lancaster Bomber.
* British Army Capt. Jack Randle lost his life taking an enemy machine gun nest at the Battle of Kohima.
* Royal Navy mini-submarine commander Lt. Ian Fraser and diver James Magennis destroyed an enemy cruiser.
* British Army Pte. Bill Speakman was wounded leading charges to hold back an advancing enemy platoon in Korea.
* Gurkha Rifles L/Cpl. Rambahadur Limbu captured enemy P.O.W’s in a nighttime raid in Sarawak.
* Australian Army Training Team Warrant Officer Keith Payne was wounded covering the retreat of a native unit in Vietnam.
* British Paras. Lt-Col. 'H'. Jones and Sgt. Ian McKay lost their lives in assaults against enemy positions during the Falklands War.
* British Army Pte. Johnson Beharry was wounded rescuing the crew of his Warrior in two separate ambushes in Iraq.

Companion book

The 2006 companion book to the series written Lord Ashcroft tells the stories of over 150 VC winners individuals whose medals are in his collection and those whose stories feature in the television series with each chapter covering on a different conflict.

elected editions

* cite book
date = Nov 6, 2006
title = Victoria Cross Heroes: Men of Valour
last = Ashcroft
first = Michael
publisher = Headline Book Publishing (hardcover)
id = ISBN 978-0755316328
* cite book
date = May 3, 2007
title = Victoria Cross Heroes: Men of Valour
last = Ashcroft
first = Michael
publisher = Headline Review (paperback)
id = ISBN 978-0755316335

External links

* [http://www.victoriacrossheroes.com/index.html Victoria Cross Heroes] includes clips from the series