Basil Arthur Horsfall | |
|---|---|
 Lt. Basil Arthur Horsfall VC | |
| Born | 4 October 1887 |
| Died | 21 March 1918 (aged 30) |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  British Army |
| Years of service | 1917 – 1918 |
| Rank | Second Lieutenant |
| Unit | Ceylon Engineer Volunteers East Lancashire Regiment |
| Battles / wars | World War I † |
| Awards |  Victoria Cross |
Second LieutenantBasil Arthur Horsfall,VC (4 October 1887 – 27 March 1918) was aBritish-Ceylonese recipient of theVictoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded toBritish andCommonwealth forces.
Born on 4 October 1887 inColombo,Ceylon (nowSri Lanka), Horsfall was educated atS. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia inCeylon[1] and atSir William Borlase's Grammar School,[2]Marlow inEngland. He left a position with Barclay's Bank, London, to become a rubber planter back in Ceylon, where he also held a civil service position with the Public Works Department and served with theCeylon Engineer Volunteers. DuringWorld War I, he returned to Britain in July 1916 to enlist in theBritish Army and was commissioned as a2nd Lieutenant in theEast Lancashire Regiment in December. He was wounded at Rouex on 11 May 1917 while serving with the 1st Battalion. After recovering from his wound he joined the 11th Battalion, (theAccrington Pals), in the autumn of 1917.[3]
On 21 March 1918, betweenMoyenneville andAblainzevelle,France, the Germans attacked positions held by Second Lieutenant Horsfall's centreplatoon. After his three forward sections were driven back, he was wounded in thehead by enemy fire. Ignoring the wound, he immediately reorganised what remained of his troops and counterattacked to regain his original position. Despite the severity of his head wound, he refused to go to the dressing station, as the three otherofficers in hiscompany had been killed. Later, he made another counterattack, but was ordered to withdraw. The last to leave his position, he was shot soon afterwards.[4][5]
Victoria Cross. Horsfall's medal is kept in theQueen's Lancashire Regiment Museum atFulwood Barracks, Preston, Lancashire.There is a blue plaque commemorating Horsfall on the front wall of Borlase School in Marlow. His name is recorded on the war memorial inside the school chapel and a replica of his VC is placed inside the chapel.
