South Yorkshire Times, June 24th, 1944
Mexborough Man Wins D.S.C.
Fleet Air Arm Observer
Sub-Lieut. Kenneth William Horsfield (23), eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Horsfield of Genoa Street, Mexborough has been awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.
Sub-Lieut. Horsfield is serving with the Fleet Air Arm. The citation announcing the award states that it is made “for courage, determination and skill shown when escorting convoys to North Russia, in the face of attacks from enemy submarines and aircraft.”
Observer of a Fleet Air Arm Swordfish aircraft, Sub-Lieut. Horsfield’s plane destroyed the second of two submarines known to have been destroyed when recently U-boat packs attacked a Russia bound convoy. The engagement was fought in appalling weather and much of the credit for the merchantmen getting through without loss has been given to the skill of the naval airmen. Sighting a U-boat on the surface Sub-Lieut. Horsfield’s plane took it by surprise gaining hits with bombs and machine gun fire after which it was seen to sink and survivors were picked up.
In 1940, Sub-Lieut. Horsfield entered Sheffield University from Mexborough Secondary School, intending taking up teaching, but volunteered for duty with the Fleet Air Arm the following year.