BASTERFIELD James Richard

  • First Name(s):
    James 
    Richard 
  • Surname:
    BASTERFIELD
  • Service Number:
    819024
  • Rank:

    Bombardier

  • Conflict:
    WW2
  • Service:
    Army
  • Army Sector:
    Artillery
  • Corps:
    Royal Artillery
  • Regiment:
    97 (The Kent Yeomanry) Field Regiment
  • Former Units:
    None
  • Date of Death:
    14th November 1942
  • Age At Death:
    29
  • Place of Death:
    Unknown
  • Place of Burial:
    Commemorated on Alamein Memorial Egypt, Column 39.
  • Place of Birth:
    Unknown
  • Home Town:
    Unknown
  • Casualty's Relatives:

    Son of Ernest and Elizabeth Basterfield; husband of Gladys M. Basterfield, of Hasbury, Worcestershire

Remember The Fallen - Lest We Forget

BASTERFIELD James Richard Is Named On These Memorials

Halesowen War Memorial
Stourbridge Old Swinford Hospital School

Notes About The Memorial(s) Listed Above

Stourbridge Old Swinford Hospital School with the additional information: Royal Artillery.  Killed in action 14 November 1942. Age 28.
Listed on Halesowen War Memorial on a smaller separate plaque at the base of the memorial.

Further Information About BASTERFIELD James Richard

Appears on the Army casualties list for Worcestershire.

James Basterfield was born on 27th March 1914, the son of Ernest and Elizabeth Basterfield of Halesowen, Worcestershire.  He entered Old Swinford Hospital on 20th July 1921.

James Basterfield served 6 years in India in the army, his trade being a farrier.  Placed on the reserve list at the end of his service, he was called up in August 1939.  He was sent to France and was subsequently evacuated from Dunkirk in 1940.  After a few days leave he returned to his unit which was later sent to Libya.  At the fall of Torbruk in June 1942 he was reported missing, later being located as an Prisoner of War of the Italians.  In November 1942, James Basterfield and around 800 other prisoners were being transferred between Italy and North Africa on a ship with no markings designating it as carrying prisoners of war.  The ship was bombed as an enemy vessel by British action and subsequently sunk.

Source for additional information: Old Foleyans Remembered Casualties of WW II published by the Old Foleyans Association, October 1996

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