Captain Cedric Michael Horsfall, Age,26, No.93320 D Company, 10th Parachute Battalion
Cedric Horsfall
Cedric was born into a wealthy Yorkshire family, his grandfather John Cousin Horsfall (1846-1920) having developed a Worsted Spinning mill at Glusburn near Skipton. The Hayfield Mill (John C Horsfall and Son) was one of the largest in the area, and John was created the 1st Baronet Horsfall in 1909, a title which passed to his son (John) Donald, Cedric's father, Cedric was named after his uncle (Captain) Cedric Fawcett Horsfall, who had been killed during the First World War in 1916.
Cedric was sent to Uppingham School in the late 1920s, following a family tradition which had seen several Horsfall members attend the Leicestershire public school. He later joined the firm of Mark Nutter Ltd., in Skipton, and at the outbreak of war was with the Duke of Wellington's Regiment (Territorials). Three brothers also served their country, John Michael (later 3rd Baronet) was in Singapore, Donald took part in the Normandy fighting, and then in Germany, and Patrick spent four years in Burma and India.
Cedric (Charles) Michael Horsfall, become godfather of Ms Particia Ray, who lived during the war with her parents John and Vera Ray at "Monkton" Mossley Hill, Liverpool.
"Monkton"was built in 1881, by the Ray family, the owned a furniture Company in Liverpool.
Their son Gerald was a good friend of Cedric, as they both served in the dame Regiment (Kings Liverpool Regiment).
Case
Case forwarded in September 2018
Used sources:
National Archives,Kew
Persons:
Sir E. J.W. Horsfall
Mrs L. Smith
Mr P. Pariso
Captain Cedric Michael HORSFALL, D Company Commander, 10th Parachute Battalion.
We know that he flew in on 18-09-1944, as D Company Commander, 10th Parachute Battalion, he and a number of men were dropped wide and landed two miles from the Rendezvous, but with the aid of a Dutch Civilian they made their way to the Battalion area on Ginkel Heath.
The next day on the 19th the battalion went forward towards Oosterbeek, along Papendal and Amsterdamseweg, where Captain Horsfall fought an involved battle with Tanks, and SP guns, after heavy losses, the battalion withdrew across Papendal sports grounds/Polish LZ across the Railway line Ede-Arnhem and spent the night in the woods.
The following day on 20-09-1944, the remains of 4th Parachute Brigade Headquarters, including 10th Parachute Battalion (40-60 men) moved off along the Breedelaan and Van Tienhoven laan, when they reached a “hollow” at the Valkenburglaan, they made a dash through the German lines and reached the so called Perimeter. It was during this dash that Captain Horsfall was hit by German machine gun fire when leading his company (in the left thigh), it is said that he was brought along into the perimeter and died in the cellar of the Hartenstein Hotel, however there is no proof for that, as almost all those who were buried in or around Hartenstein were buried in the mass graves.
As there is no War Dairy of 10th Parachute Battalion, so it’s not possible to check this on information.
In grave 24.B.3 at Arnhem/Oosterbeek War Cemetery lies an unknown Officer, brought in from an unknown location by Dutch civilians However if I am correct a card was found on his body with the following address “Monkton, Mossley Hill, Liverpool.
CONCLUSION:
After checking my own records about the 21 officers missing after the Battle, I came to the conclusion that a number of them could be crossed out as not being killed or missing in Oosterbeek.
2 off them drowned in the North Sea.
2 Drowned in the Rhine.
5 Where killed in Arnhem.
1 Was killed on Ginkel Heath.
11 Were killed in Oosterbeek
Off those killed/missing in Oosterbeek I checked if they maybe came from the Liverpool area:
Major J.M. Simonds, Headquarter Company Commander of the 2nd Battalion the South Staffordshire area came from St Helens, believed to have been killed near the church at Benedendorpsweg, Oosterbeek.
This of course does not proof that the others could not have been involved in the Liverpool area, but after much research I have found out the family who owned and lived at “Monkton House” Mossley Hill, Liverpool was the Ray family, (John and Vera) they had one Son Gerald Ray (passed away 1967), he served in the Army and was a Captain in the Liverpool Kings Regiment during WW2, he had two daughters Liz and Patricia.
And it turned out after correspondence that Patricia’s godfather was Captain Cedric Michael Horsfall. Which in my eyes shows the connection with the card with this address found on the body of the unknown officer?
Therefore I would like to ask you if you would be so kind to check any connections with the unknown officer in grave 24.B.3 and those of Captain Cedric Michael Horsfall of D Company, 10th Parachute Battalion.
According to next of kin of Captain Horsfall they think he had mid brown hair and was approx. 1.75m.
Philip Reinders 09-09-2018,
Outcome
Case out come: April 2019.
contact details are removed for privacy reasons.
Dear Mr Reinders,
Further to your email dated 9 September 2018 regarding your identification case for Captain Cedric Michael Horsfall, 93320 as the unidentified British Officer of the Army Air Corps buried within grave XXIV.B.3. Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery.
Firstly it may help to explain what the Commission require to accurately verify any claims of this nature. I have taken this opportunity to attach the Commission’s identification case guidance document for your information.
Unfortunately, having checked the Commission’s records it has not been possible to connect this grave to Captain Horsfall. The case submission was presented without any official supporting documentary evidence to verify your claims, of significance, the reference that a card was found on the body with the address; “Monkton, Mossley Hill, Liverpool”. There is no reference to a card, or any other items found within Commission records relating to this burial/casualty.
As you are aware, the site of the original burial location is not known. CWGC records confirm this fact and that the grave was brought in by civilians from Oosterbeek, exact location unknown. This poses a significant obstacle in attempting to establish the identity of this grave. Additionally, the CWGC do not hold an Exhumation Report for this burial, which may have contained such details like the discovery of an address/card when the casualty was concentrated into Arnhem Oosterbeek.
Due to these factors it has not been possible to establish any link between Captain Horsfall and the unidentified British Officer now resting in XXIV.B.3.
It is understood that this email may come as a disappointment to you but it is hoped that the above provides some explanation as to why this case cannot be taken forward at this time.
Yours sincerely,
Dear Mr Reinders,
Further to my email yesterday, unfortunately, due to an internal issue with our database, where casualty records are stored, was undergoing maintenance and as such the presence of the exhumation report was not visible.
I can confirm that the casualty buried within XXIV.B.3. Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery, does have an exhumation report. The report does corroborate what you have stated regarding the address. An address is noted as found on a document: Monkton Mossley Hill Liverpool.
However, at this stage the outcome remains the same and the Commission cannot prove a link between this burial and Captain Horsfall.
Should you have evidence to support your original correspondence then please do compile a submission, following the guidance document previously provided.
Yours sincerely,