Extraordinary heroine features in exhibition

A BRAVERY award given to a local heroine is to go on display as part of a new permanent exhibition recognising acts of bravery.

The Lord Ashcroft Gallery at the Imperial War Museum in London is hosting the exhibition, called Extraordinary Heroes, from next month.

It features the inspiring story of Doreen Ashburnham, who was awarded the George Cross for her act of bravery, aged just 11.

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On September 23, 1916 she was viciously attacked by a cougar in Vancouver in Canada, along with her eight-year-old cousin Anthony Farrer.

Together they struggled to defend each other from repeated attacks until the cougar was finally driven off and shot.

Doreen was born in 1905 at Ashburnham Place in Battle and moved to Vancouver with her parents when she was nine.

She and her cousin were both awarded the Albert Medal in 1917 and Doreen exchanged hers for a George Cross in 1974.

She also received the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Medal in 1977.

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In later life, Doreen moved to California, married and had a daughter.

During her eventful life, she competed in international horse shows, flew aircraft across the Atlantic during the Second World War and drove sports cars into her 80s. She died in 1991, aged 86.

Visitors to the exhibition will get to view not only the medal awarded to Doreen but all 241 Victoria Cross (VC) and George Cross (GC) decorations together on display.

The VC is the Britain and the Commonwealth’s top award for gallantry in the face of the enemy and the GC is the UK’s most prestigious civil decoration.

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Lord Ashcroft said: “My fascination with bravery, and in particular the VC, goes back to my childhood, so I’m thrilled to be responsible for a new gallery at the Imperial War Museum which will help audiences of all ages discover some of the most gallant actions in history.”

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