Woodhall Spa. The Victoria Cross connection

 John Daniel Baskeyfield  (1922 – 1944) was a Lance-Sergeant with the South Staffordshire Regiment, 1 ^st  Airborne Division. He went to Arnhem in Holland, remembered in the film “A Bridge too Far”. He was in charge of a 6-pounder anti-tank gun. During the engagement with the enemy two Tiger tanks and one self-propelling gun were destroyed and he was wounded and his crew became casualties. He continued to man the gun alone and kept the enemy at bay. When the gun was put out of action, he crawled to another pounder and manned that single handed. He was able to make a direct hit on the self-propelling gun but was killed before he was able to take any more action. He died 20 ^th  September 1944.

Image right:  2nd Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment on their way towards Arnhem, 18 September 1944. 

 Robert Henry Cain  (1909 – 1974) was a Temporary Major in the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers attached to the South Staffordshire Regiment 1 ^st  Airborne Division. At Arnhem his Company was cut off from the Battalion but he showed great leadership wherever there was danger and encouraged his men to engage with the enemy tanks, self-propelled guns and infantry demoralizing to the enemy. He suffered multiple wounds but refused medical attention.

 Image right: John Frost bridge at Arnhem 2017 

 Geoffrey Leonard Cheshire  (1917 – 1992) was a Wing Commander in the RAF Volunteer reserve, later becoming a Group Captain. From 1940 to 1944 he completed 100 missions displaying courage and determination of an exceptional leader. His operations succeeded due to careful planning, brilliant execution and supreme contempt for danger. He took the title Baron Cheshire of Woodhall.

Image right: Armstrong Whitworth Whitley Mk V of No. 58 Squadron RAF takes off on a night sortie from Linton-on-Ouse, Yorkshire, June 1942.