In Memory Of

ZAHN, BASIL WERNER PENROSE

Service Details
Age:
 22
Date of Birth:
 1919-08-17
Service No:
 114800
Rank:
 Lance Bombardier
Unit:
 1 Field Regt.
Unit 2:
 2 Bty.
Regiment:
 South African Artillery
Date of Death:
 1942-06-20
Cause of Death:
 Died of wounds
Commemoration
Grave Reference:
 Coll. grave 13. C. 21-24.
Cemetery:
 KNIGHTSBRIDGE WAR CEMETERY, ACROMA
Country:
 Libya
Additional Information
Decorations:
 M M
Citations:
 LG Sup 3 March 1942 pg. 997 - "For devotion to duty and an outstanding display of courage near Menastir, during the reconnaissance operations against Bardia on 16 December 1941. Our infantry were being subjected to intense machine gun fire and were unable to move in any direction. In order to relieve the situation it was necessary to neutralize the machine guns by artillery fire. L/Bdr Zahn, though a wireless operator and as such not required to lay cable, volunteered to lay cable over the open under very heavy machine gun fire. On three separate occasions he carried heavy reels of cable over this ground, and communication was established with the F.O.O., who was thus enabled to direct the necessary fire."
Son of Gustav Adolph and Kathleen Penrose (nee Hall) Zahn, of Knysna, Cape Province, South Africa. Educated at Diocesan College 1930-37 and later Rhodes University, Grahamstown. Commemorated on Diocesan College Roll of Honour. His brother also died in service ***Might be Jewish.