Basil Arthur Horsfall
Second Lieutenant, 3rd Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment attached to 11th Battalion
- Register No.
- 597 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Second Lieutenant all Second Lieutenants →
- Unit
- 3rd Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment attached to 11th Battalion all East Lancashire Regiment VCs →
- Date of action
- 21 March 1918 on this day → all of 1918 →
- Conflict / campaign
- First World War
- London Gazette
- 22nd May, 1918 on this day → all of 1918 →
- Born
- 4th October 1887 at Colombo, Ceylon. (Srlanka)
- Died
- 27th March, 1918 near Ablainzeville, France. (killed in
- Award
- Posthumous all posthumous VCs →
- Memorial / grave
- on Arras Memorial, France
Digest of citation
On 27th March 1918 between Moyenville and Ablainzeville, France, when the enemy first attacked Second Lieutenant Horsfall's centre platoon, his three forward sections were driven back and he was wounded in the head. Nevertheless he immediately reorganised the remainder of his men and made a counter-attack which recovered his original position. Despite the severity of his wound, he refused to go to the dressing station, as the three remaining officers in his company were casualties. Later, he made a second successful counter-attack but when finally ordered to withdraw, he was the last to leave the position. He was killed almost immediately afterwards
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
HORSFALL, Basil Arthur. (reg No. 597).
Second Lieutenant. 3rd Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment attached to 11th Battalion.
London Gazetted on 22nd May, 1918.
Born on 4th October 1887 at Colombo, Ceylon. (Srlanka).
Died on 27th March, 1918 near Ablainzeville, France. (killed in action).
Memorial on Arras Memorial, France.
Digest of Citation reads: On 27th March 1918 between Moyenville and Ablainzeville, France, when the enemy first attacked Second Lieutenant Horsfall's centre platoon, his three forward sections were driven back and he was wounded in the head. Nevertheless he immediately reorganised the remainder of his men and made a counter-attack which recovered his original position. Despite the severity of his wound, he refused to go to the dressing station, as the three remaining officers in his company were casualties. Later, he made a second successful counter-attack but when finally ordered to withdraw, he was the last to leave the position. He was killed almost immediately afterwards.
action).
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: on Arras Memorial, France
Map links open a search for the place name Alf recorded; please check opening times and exact locations before travelling. Many VC graves have since been restored by the Victoria Cross Trust.
Research this recipient further
Would you like to honour Basil Arthur Horsfall by sponsoring this page from £1 a month — in memory of someone, in your own name or for your company? Sponsor this page.