november september english recipient victoria_cross highest award gallantry face enemy awarded members british commonwealth armed forces born initially butcher called army served unit sicily italy returning united_kingdom division deployed operation market garden fought subsequent defending perimeter days battle commanded pair anti tank guns destroyed enemy tanks crews killed subsequently fired guns killed body identified war known grave early life born november trent england son daniel trained worked butcher early years second world war received papers february age second world war joined served 2nd battalion anti tank platoon accompanied north_africa took operation borne element division landed italy operation spent weeks fighting way country sailing england operation market garden attempt secure string bridges netherlands british 1st polish 1st tasked securing bridges final objectives operation airborne forces dropped september aware 9th 10th divisions near rest refit presence added substantial number tanks self propelled guns german defenses allies suffered heavily ensuing battle small force managed hold end road bridge overrun september rest division trapped small pocket west bridge evacuated september allies failed cross rhine remained german control allied march advance owing shortage aircraft allies planned fly entire division days split lifts day day unit arrived day remaining balance arriving second lift battalion anti tank guns flown day major general original plan envisaged 1st securing drop zones subsequent lifts end day allied advance stalled small group 1st mainly elements lieutenant colonel able reach bridge 1st unable penetrate outer suburbs city advance stalled order support lift sent forward morning september second lift arrived later day sent forward arrived outskirts night anti tank platoon kept divisional area early hours morning september attack launched narrow river railway line order force passage bridge support weapons left rear unable suitably deploy dark narrow confines urban surroundings face strong enemy positions armour attack british routed withdrawal remnants battalions fell disarray main divisional positions gathered defensive units lieutenant colonel sheriff thompson commanding officer 1st light artillery regiment forcibly stopped panicked troops major form defensive screen half mile positions sector designated thompson force thompson actually sent major forward command outlying troops later day german forces determined attacks force september starting soon dawn charge pounder anti tank guns defending junction southernmost road guns faced joined north covered likely enemy approach road open ground north east right flank east covered anti tank gun commanded initial german assault gun crews destroyed tanks self propelled gun advanced allowed armour come yards positions ordering crews fire nearby houses dealt attacking infantry course action crew killed wounded badly injured refused evacuated later german attack worked gun loading laying firing fired round round enemy fire gun action second gun crew similarly disabled engaged self propelled gun rounds killed shortly fire german tank men fell new positions later day thompson force eventually renamed force thompson wounded september force continued hold perimeter allies withdrew night september victoria_cross citation victoria_cross appeared supplement london gazette november reading 23rd november king pleased approve posthumous award victoria cross trent september battle charge pounder anti tank gun enemy developed major attack sector infantry tanks self propelled guns obvious intent break overrun battalion position early stage action crew commanded responsible destruction tiger tanks self propelled gun thanks daring complete disregard safety allowed tank come yards gun opening fire course preliminary engagement badly wounded leg remainder crew killed badly wounded brief respite engagement refused carried spent time attending gun shouting encouragement comrades neighbouring trenches short interval enemy renewed attack greater cover intense mortar shell fire manning gun continued fire round round enemy gun action time activity main factor keeping enemy tanks bay fact surviving men vicinity held kept action undoubtedly magnificent example outstanding courage time time enemy attacks launched driven finally gun knocked intense enemy fire pounder gun nearby crew killed proceeded man single handed gun engaged enemy self propelled gun approaching attack soldier open ground assist killed succeeded firing rounds self propelled gun scoring direct hit rendered ineffective whilst preparing fire shot killed shell supporting enemy tank superb gallantry praise remaining days stories constant inspiration ranks danger ignored pain supreme fighting spirit infected witnessed conduct devotion duty characterised actions legacy liberated april grave registration units moved area began locate allied dead men buried war cemetery body identified cemetery unidentified records unidentified soldiers instead inscribed memorial commemorates allied servicemen killed august end conflict known grave awarded battle including major commander british battalion receive engagement second world war victoria_cross displayed twice life size memorial statue erected festival heights trent named changed march academy having come special measures local church artist painting action filmmaker spent years making short film role battle entitled tree site second gun corner named
John Baskeyfield