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2nd Lt. Basil Arthur Horsfall VC
British Army 1st Btn. East Lancashire Regiment
from:Ceylon
(d.27th March 1918)
Basil Horsfall was killed in action on the 27th of March 1918, aged 30. He is commemorated on the Arras Memorial in the Faubourg-d'Amiens Cemetery, Arras, France.
Son of the late Charles William Horsfall, of Darlington, Polwatta, Colombo, and of Maria Henrietta Horsfall (nee Layard), of Florence, Kandy, Ceylon. He was born at Kelvin Gerve, Colombo; educated at St. Thomas's College, Colombo and Sir William Borlase School, Great Marlow, England. From Barclay's Bank, London, he took up Rubber planting in Ceylon and was appointed Financial Assistant to the Public Works Department of the Civil Service of Ceylon. Basil qualified in signalling and search light in the Ceylon Engineer Volunteers.
An extract from The London Gazette, dated 22nd May, 1918, records the following:- "For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty. 2nd Lt. Horsfall was in command of the centre platoon during an attack on our positions. When the enemy first attacked, his three forward sections were driven back and he was wounded in the head. Nevertheless, he immediately organised the remainder of his men and made a counter-attack, which recovered his original positions. On hearing that out of the remaining three officers of his company two were killed and one wounded, he refused to go to the dressing room, although his wound was severe. Later his platoon had to be withdrawn to escape very heavy shell fire, but immediately the shelling lifted he made a second counter-attack and again recovered his positions. When the order to withdraw was given, he was the last to leave his position, and, although exhausted, said he could have held on if it had been necessary. HIs conduct was a splendid example to his men, and he showed throughout the utmost disregard of danger. This very gallant officer was killed when retiring to the positions in rear."
