BASTERFIELD, Horace

Horace Basterfield was born in Halesowen and lived at 11 Queen Street, Halesowen, with his parents, Edward and Lavinia Basterfield. He attended Halesowen C of E school and volunteered for the Worcesters to join the 2/8th Territorial Battalion. After the 1917 battles they were stationed close to the Hindenburg Line. In March 1918 the great German Spring offensive was widely anticipated and the Worcesters were entrenched in the front line near St. Quentin. On the 21st March they felt the full power of the enemy attack and were forced into a long retreat. Private Horace Basterfield was among the many killed in action on that first day. He was 27 years of age and is buried in Chapelle Holnon Cemetery (II H 10) and commemorated on the Halesowen and Halesowen C of E school Memorials.