LORD”AESRHOC ORFO FT’S THE MONTH”
LEADERSHIP
AGGRESSION • BOLDNESS INITIATIVE • SACRIFICE SKILL • ENDURANCE
The many Victoria Crosses and George Crosses in the Lord Ashcroft Gallery at the Imperial War Museum in London are displayed under one of seven different qualities of bravery. Acting Lieutenant Colonel William Herbert Anderson’s VC is part of the collection, and Lord Ashcroft feels that it falls within the category of leadership:
“Charismatic, strong, inspirational, the natural leader not only takes command, but also infuses all those around them with confidence and hope. They exude calm and resolve. They are a tower of strength.”
WILLIAM HERBERT Anderson was born in Glasgow, Scotland, on 29 December 1881. Always known as “Bertie”, he was the eldest of five sons born to William James Anderson, an accountant and stockbroker, and his wife, Nora (née Kay). However, one of the couple’s sons, Harry, had died, aged just seven days old, on 7 March 1887.
The four surviving sons all enjoyed a privileged upbringing, sharing their time between two vast houses in Scotland. Their parents owned both a country pile, Strathairly in Upper Largo, Fife, and a rambling Georgian town house in Lansdowne Crescent, a pros…
