Baskeyeld, though his exact resting place is uncertain, is honoured at
the Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery. His name stands among those
who fought to the last.
VC Citation:
Lance-Sergeant John Daniel Baskeyeld
Unit : Anti-Tank Platoon, Support Company, 2nd Battalion The South
Staffordshire Regiment
Army No. : 5057916
Awards : Victoria Cross
John Baskeyeld was born in Burslem in November 1922. He became
a butcher in 1940, and became the manager of a co-op butchers
in Pittshull. In February 1942 he received his call up papers and
served with the 2nd South Staffords in North Africa, Sicily, and Italy.
Commanding two 6-pounder anti-tank guns at Arnhem, his section
saw heavy action during the vicious ghting that followed the stand of
the Lonsdale Force in Oosterbeek on Wednesday 20th September.
The enemy made a consistent and determined drive to break what
remained of the parachute battalions and the 2nd South Staffords in
the area, throwing everything at them that they had at their disposal.
Positioned on the Benedendorpsweg-Acacialaan road junction, his
crew were responsible for the destruction of two Tiger tanks and
at least one self-propelled gun. Baskeyeld manned his gun until
he was killed. For his seless dedication and determination he was
posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross. His citation reads:
On 20th September 1944, during the Battle of Arnhem, Lance
Sergeant Baskeyeld 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,