World War II Victoria Cross Recipient. Born in Burslem, England, he served as a Lance Sergeant in the 2nd Battalion, Staffordshire Regiment, British Army. On September 20, 1944, during the Battle of Arnhem, Lance Sergeant Baskeyfield was in charge of a 6-pounder anti-tank gun at Oosterbeek, Nertherlands. Suddenly the enemy launched an attack with infantry, tanks and self-propelled guns to overrun the 2nd Battalion's position. Lance Sergeant Baskeyfield with complete disregard for his own safety, allowed each tank to come well within 100 yards of his gun before opening fire. As the enemy reached his post, he opened fire, was wounded with the remainder of his crew being either killed or badly wounded. Refusing to be carried to the aid station, he spent his time attending to his gun and shouting encouragement to his comrades in the trenches. When the enemy renewed the attack, Lance Sergeant Baskeyfield manning his gun alone, continued to fire round after round at the enemy keeping their tanks at bay. Finally, when his gun was knocked out, he crawled under intense fire to another 6-pounder gun where the crew had been killed and proceeded to man it single-handed. He succeeded in firing two rounds at the oncoming tanks and as he was preparing to fire a third shot, he was killed by a shell from a supporting enemy tank. For gallantry in the face of the enemy, he was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross on November 23, 1944.
World War II Victoria Cross Recipient. Born in Burslem, England, he served as a Lance Sergeant in the 2nd Battalion, Staffordshire Regiment, British Army. On September 20, 1944, during the Battle of Arnhem, Lance Sergeant Baskeyfield was in charge of a 6-pounder anti-tank gun at Oosterbeek, Nertherlands. Suddenly the enemy launched an attack with infantry, tanks and self-propelled guns to overrun the 2nd Battalion's position. Lance Sergeant Baskeyfield with complete disregard for his own safety, allowed each tank to come well within 100 yards of his gun before opening fire. As the enemy reached his post, he opened fire, was wounded with the remainder of his crew being either killed or badly wounded. Refusing to be carried to the aid station, he spent his time attending to his gun and shouting encouragement to his comrades in the trenches. When the enemy renewed the attack, Lance Sergeant Baskeyfield manning his gun alone, continued to fire round after round at the enemy keeping their tanks at bay. Finally, when his gun was knocked out, he crawled under intense fire to another 6-pounder gun where the crew had been killed and proceeded to man it single-handed. He succeeded in firing two rounds at the oncoming tanks and as he was preparing to fire a third shot, he was killed by a shell from a supporting enemy tank. For gallantry in the face of the enemy, he was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross on November 23, 1944.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
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