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John Charles Harry Horsefield was born at Heeley, Sheffield, Yorkshire and was serving in the 22nd Field Regiment Royal Artillery prior to the outbreak of war in 1939. As part of the British Expeditionary Force the Regiment took part in the early actions in France with Horsefield playing a prominent role in maintaining and keeping intact the lines of communication between his Battery and the observation posts whilst under continuous and heavy fire for which he was awarded the Military Medal.
During the evacuation operation from Dunkirk with the remnants of the B.E.F., Horsefield was killed in action on 1 June 1940. The army death entry form records that he was killed at sea.
Twenty-six-year-old Horsefield is commemorated on the Dunkirk Memorial.
His M.M. appeared in the London Gazette on 20 December 1940, the official recommendation states:
'Sgt. Horsefield was indefatigable in his continuous efforts to maintain the communications between his battery and the observation posts. He was out repairing lines day and night in his determination to keep communication intact, in spite of being constantly under heavy shell and rifle fire. He displayed a magnificent example to the signallers under him in his coolness and resource.'
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