John Baskeyfield
John "Jack" Daniel Baskeyfield VC (18 November 1922 – 20 September 1944) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry "in the face of the enemy" that can be awarded to members of the British or Commonwealth armed forces.
Born in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, England, Baskeyfield received his call up papers to serve with the Anti-Tank Platoon, Support Company, 2nd Battalion The South Staffordshire Regiment ("South Staffs"), in February 1942.
He was 21 years old, and a Lance Sergeant in the South Staffs, British Army, 1st Airborne Division during the Second World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 20 September 1944 during the Battle of Arnhem, Lance Sergeant Baskeyfield was the NCO in charge of a six-pounder anti-tank gun at Oosterbeek. When their battalion was attacked Baskeyfield was badly wounded in the leg, and the rest of the crew were either killed or badly wounded. He refused an offer of transport to the Regimental Aid Post to stay at his gun and encourage morale.
After a brief respite, Baskeyfield came under heavy fire again but he refused to cower[citation needed]. After crawling under enemy fire to another six-pounder gun, he was killed by a shell from a supporting enemy tank.
Lance-Sergeant Baskeyfield's body was never found, but there is a memorial statue of him at Festival Heights in Stoke-on-Trent which was erected in the early 1990s.
His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Museum of the Staffordshire Regiment (Lichfield, Staffordshire, England).
References
- British VCs of World War 2 (John Laffin, 1997)
- Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
- The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
External links
- VC at Arnhem (Arnhem operation details and photos)
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