Basil Arthur Horsfall

Basil Arthur Horsfall was a Ceylonese recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Details

Born on October 4, 1887 in Colombo, Ceylon (today Sri Lanka), Horsfall was 30 years old, and a Second Lieutenant in the East Lancashire Regiment during the First World War, when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

March 21, 1918 (World War I). Between Moyenville and Ablainzeville, France, when the enemy attacked Second Lieutenant Horsfall's centre platoon, his three forward sections were driven back and he was wounded in the head 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 other officers in his company had been killed. Later, he made another counterattack, but was ordered to withdraw. The last to leave his position, he was shot soon afterwards.

Horsfall's name is on the Arras Memorial in France. It is not known where he is buried.

Horsfall's medal is kept in the Blackburn Museum.

Reference

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