Victoria Cross Given to British Soldier Who Stormed Tibet Fort 110 Years Ago Becomes Most Expensive Sold At Auction

Lieutenant John Duncan Grant (left) was given the medal (middle right) in 1905. He was sent to Tibet to negotiate with the Dalai Lama, but, in order to reach his destination, he had to breach a formidable fort (top right) with a group of Gurkha soldiers. He was shot and wounded during a 'fracas', but survived, and returned home to receive the honour a year later. The medal was sold to billionaire Lord Ashcroft for £408,000 (bottom right), who holds the world’s biggest collection of Victoria Cross medals estimated to be worth £40 million.