Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Four: Lieutenant J. Horsley, 1st (Airborne) Battalion, Border Regiment, attached 21st Independent Company, Parachute Regiment, Army Air Corps, who died of wounds received during the Battle of Arnhem, 27 September 1944

1939-45 Star; Italy Star; France and Germany Star; War Medal 1939-45, in card box of issue, addressed to ‘T. M. Horsley Esq., 41 Highlane Avenue, Kempston, Newcastle-on-Tyne’, with named Buckingham Palace condolence letter, extremely fine (4) £180-220

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals to Second World War Casualties.

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John Horsley was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the 1st Battalion, Border Regiment on 21 December 1940, and served with them during the Second World War as part of 31st Infantry Brigade. The Brigade was re-designated to become part of the airborne forces as 1st Air Landing Brigade in October 1941, and Horsley trained as a military parachutist, qualifying on Course 11 which was run at R.A.F. Ringway in April 1942. He subsequently ran the Battalion’s Intelligence Unit before being seconded to the 21st Independent Company, Parachute Regiment in July 1944, still in the role of Intelligence Officer. He served with his new unit at the Battle of Arnhem, where the 21st were the Pathfinder Company, first to jump and tasked with deploying ground markers for the incoming main force. Leading the Way to Arnhem, An Illustrated History of the 21st Independent Parachute Company 1942-46, by Peter Gijbels and David Truesdale gives the following details:
‘On 18 September 1944, when all the landings were completed the various platoons marched back to the Company HQ at Rijerscamp. From here Lieutenant Horsley and Private Schubert Stevens set out to reconnoitre the new position for the Company in the area of Oosterbeek Hoog, a small railway station on the outskirts of the village.’

By 22 September the complete drop of the British Airborne was over and they were engaged in very heavy fighting throughout Arnhem and the Perimeter: ‘All platoons were heavily engaged during the day by a combination of mortar fire and prowling S.P. guns. Added to this was the increased danger from snipers who attempted to infiltrate the area and were intent on taking up positions on rooftops and in trees. The Intelligence Officer, John Horsley, made the hazardous task of stalking snipers his speciality. Whenever a sniper was reported to be troubling our positions he went out armed with a Schmiesser which he obtained while fighting in Italy. When he returned he smiled contentedly and proudly proclaimed “That’s another bastard less!”’

However, Horsley’s luck ran out during the withdrawal of the remnants of the Division on the evening of 25 September: ‘As the main column approached the river it ran into an enemy strongpoint consisting of two machine guns. As they opened fire the burst caught Major Wilson, Signalman Logan, and Lieutenant Horsley. Wilson escaped with a flesh wound to the face; Logan was hit in the arm and subsequently taken prisoner; and Lieutenant Horsley was wounded and left behind with Logan; Horsley died of his wounds in hospital two days later.’

Horsley was aged 24 at the time of his death. He is buried in Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery, Holland. His medals were sent to his father Tom Mason Horsley.

Sold with the Personal Effects Parcel notice, named to the deceased recipient; two photographic images of the recipient; and a copy of the Book Leading the Way to Arnhem, An Illustrated History of the 21st Independent Parachute Company 1942-46, by Peter Gijbels and David Truesdale.