WWI A.F.C. GROUP OF 3 MEDALS TO CAPT. H.T. HORSFIELD, R.F.C.

Air Force Cross Gazetted 3 June 1919.

Henry Taylor Horsfield was born in Chapel en le Frith, Derbyshire on 30 Oct 1889 and worked as a fruit grocer before attesting with the 8th Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment on 31 Aug 1914, with his address listed as Lanesfield, Evesham, Worcestershire. Commissioned 2nd Lieutenant with the 13th Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment on 1 Dec 1914, transferring to the Royal Flying Corps on 19 May 916 and posted to 34 Squadron. Promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 1 Jun 1916, Horsfield was operational from 10 July 1916, completing 75 sorties during the next four months during the Battle of the Somme.

During his first mission, Horsfield was attacked by five hostile machines. On 16 Oct 1916, Lieut. Horsfield and Observer Lieut. C.K.M. Douglas took off at 1230hrs and were attacked by enemy aircraft. Horsfield's Be2E was badly damaged with 'many shot holes all over the machine' and holes in the petrol tank, pilot's seat, wireless wrecked, many struts damaged, tail plane damaged, right -hand wheel and propeller damaged and right-hand rudder control cable damaged. Worse still, Douglas was wounded and the Lewis Gun lost overboard. Despite this, Horsfield was able to crash-land the stricken aircraft behind allied lines at 1335hrs. Completing 75 operations on 11 Nov 1916, Horsfield was posted to 9 Squadron in France as Acting Captain and was employed as a home establishment flying instructor, joining 17 Training Squadron at Croydon. Finally joining 10 Training Squadron at Joyce Green and No.2 School of Aviation, Horsfield was awarded the Air Force Cross and was transferred to the Unemployed List on 9 Oct 1919.