Lance-Sergeant John Daniel Baskeyfield VC





John Baskeyfield was born in Burslem in November 1922. He became a butcher in 1940, and became the manager of a co-op butchers in Pittshull. In February 1942 he received his call up papers and served with the 2nd South Staffords in North Africa, Sicily, and Italy. Commanding two 6-pounder anti-tank guns at Arnhem, his section saw heavy action during the vicious fighting that followed the stand of the Lonsdale Force in Oosterbeek on Wednesday 20th September. The enemy made a consistent and determined drive to break what remained of the parachute battalions and the 2nd South Staffords in the area, throwing everything at them that they had at their disposal.



Positioned on the Benedendorpsweg-Acacialaan road junction, Baskeyfield's crew were responsible for the destruction of two Tiger tanks and at least one self-propelled gun. He was determined that every shot fired counted, and so he waited until the enemy vehicles were within the perilously close range of 100 yards before opening fire. But as a result of this confrontation, Baskeyfield was left badly wounded in the leg, while the rest of the crew were either killed or wounded. However he refused to be taken to a first aid post and proceeded to man the gun by himself. During this brief respite, he did his best to encourage the spirits of the troops within earshot.



Shortly after, another armour attack came in his direction, but it was heavier than the previous assault and supported by an intense mortar bombardment. Baskeyfield's was the only manned anti-tank gun in the vicinity, the crews of all the others were all dead or wounded. He continued to fight alone, firing shell after shell at the oncomming vehicles. Eventually his gun was hit and destroyed, but he had personally foiled the entire tank attack.



Baskeyfield was not prepared to surrender, and ignoring his painful wound, he dragged himself across the road to an operable anti-tank gun, the crew of which had been killed. Spurred on by this immense display of courage, another soldier crawled across to aid the Lance-Sergeant, but he was killed in the attempt. Once more Baskeyfield operated the gun by himself and brought it to bear on an approaching self-propelled gun. He hit it twice and put it out of action, and was preparing to unleash a third shot when a tank fired on Baskeyfield's gun and destroyed it. The explosion also killed this most valiant NCO. His body was never found.



Tales of John Baskeyfield's bravery were told throughout the remainder of the battle and beyond, and they were a great inspiration for all. Due to his overwhelming devotion to duty and complete disregard for his own safety, he was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross. Few men could have been more worthy of this distinction than Lance-Sergeant Baskeyfield. A memorial statue of him stands at the Festival Heights, in Stoke.

Lance-Sergeant John Daniel Baskeyfield
The South Staffordshire Regiment
lst Airborne Division


On 20th September,1944, during the battle for Arnhem, Lance-Sergeant Baskeyfield was the NCO in charge of a six-pounder anti-tank gun at Oosterbeek.

The enemy developed a major attack on this sector with infantry, tanks and self-propelled guns with the obvious intent to break into and over-run the battalion position. During the early stage of the action the crew commanded by this NCO was responsible for the destruction of two Tiger tanks and at least one self-propelled gun, thanks to the coolness and daring of this NCO who, with complete disregard for his own safety, allowed each tank to come well within 100 yards of his gun before opening fire.

In the course of this preliminary engagement Lance-Sergeant Baskeyfield was badly wounded in the leg and the remainder of his crew were either killed or badly wounded. During the brief respite after this engagement Lance-Sergeant Baskeyfield refused to be carried to the regimental aid post and spent his time attending to his gun and shouting encouragement to his comrades in neighboring trenches. After a short interval the enemy renewed the attack with even greater ferocity than before, under cover of intense mortar and shell fire. Manning his gun quite alone, Lance-Sergeant Baskeyfield continued to fire round after round at the enemy until his gun was put out of action.

By this time his activity was the main factor in keeping the enemy tanks at bay. The fact that the surviving men in his vicinity were held together and kept in action was undoubtedly due to his magnificent example and outstanding courage. Time after time enemy attacks were launched and driven off. Finally, when his gun was knocked out, Lance-Sergeant Baskeyfield crawled, under intense enemy fire to another six-pounder nearby, the crew of which had been killed, and proceeded to man it single-handed. With his gun he engaged an enemy self-propelled gun which was approaching to attack. Another soldier crawled across the open ground to assist him but was killed almost at once. Lance-Sergeant Baskeyfield succeeded in firing two rounds at the self-propelled gun, scoring one direct hit which rendered it ineffective. Whilst preparing to fire a third shot, however, he was killed by a shell from a supporting enemy tank.
The superb gallantry of this NCO is beyond praise. During the remaining days at Arnhem stories of his valor were a constant inspiration to all ranks. He spurned danger, ignored pain and, by his supreme fighting spirit, infected all who witnessed his conduct with the same aggressiveness and dogged devotion to duty which characterized his actions throughout.
Lance-Sergeant John Daniel Baskeyfield was killed in action on 20th September 1944 at Oosterbeek.