Hmmm, the Brits would disagree: Richard the Lionheart, Lord Nelson, the Duke of Wellington, Gordon of Khartoum, Lawrence of Arabia, Sir Bernard Law Montgomery, Winston Churchill. British museums, churches, parks & roundabouts are filled with statues of their heroes.
No kidding.
Not to mention Henry V (..we Band of brothers etc etc) John Churchill, 1st Duke of Malborough who defeated the hithertofore undefeated armies of Louis XIV, Sir Francis Drake, General Wolfe who conquered the French in Canada, General Clive who conquered India, the defenders of Rourkes drift, 11 V.C.s ( think - Zulu Michael Caine), Guy Gibson V.C. ( Dam Busters ) Captain Robert Charisee ( Double V.C. ) Sir William Wallace, Robert the Bruce. Sir William Slim
In fact the Brits did not acquire an empire"In a fit of absent mindedness" as some wit observed, but rather through the strenuous efforts of some rather extraordinary men.