Lance-Sergeant John Daniel
Baskeyfield
The South Staffordshire Regiment
1st Airborne Division
Missing in action
Citation:
"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 neighbouring
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. He was 22 years old.
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." |