Shamed: The Men Who Won and Lost the Victoria Cross

“The thing about the Victoria Cross is you can’t have it taken away… can you?”

In this challenging and thought-provoking talk, historian Andy Sloane examines one of the least-known aspects of Britain’s highest military decoration: the men who won the Victoria Cross — and later lost it.

Beginning with the origins of the Victoria Cross, the talk outlines why the medal was created, what it was intended to represent, and the standards of courage and conduct it was meant to embody. It then turns to the extraordinary stories of the eight men whose Victoria Crosses were later forfeited.

Through detailed case studies, this talk explores:

• The backgrounds of the men involved

• The acts of bravery for which they were awarded the Victoria Cross

• The offences or circumstances that led to its forfeiture

• What happened to them afterwards — socially, legally, and personally

Far from simple tales of heroes and villains, these stories reveal uncomfortable truths about discipline, morality, mental ill health, addiction, and the pressures faced by soldiers before and after war. They also raise difficult questions about honour, punishment, and whether a single act — brave or disgraceful — should define a life.

Shamed offers a powerful reassessment of courage and consequence, and challenges long-held assumptions about the permanence of honour and the cost of failure.

Ideal for audiences interested in military history, social history, the human impact of war, and the complexities behind medals and remembrance.

About the Venue

Our monthly events are based at Penn Bowling Club, 10 Manor Road, Penn, Wolverhampton, WV4 5PY. The venue is fully wheelchair accessible, has good parking, toilet facilities and a bar. For users of public transport, the 15/16 bus routes along the Penn Road can be followed by a short walk up Manor Road to the venue.