BELFIELD, William. Private 290871, 7th Cheshire Regiment, died 25th July 1917 aged 36. He is at rest Macclesfield Cemetery Cheshire.
Some notes from what remains of his army records. He first enlisted on the 26th October 1914 at Macclesfield. He was aged 30 years and 103 days as Private 17615, 9th Cheshire Regiment. He lived at Hurdsfield Macclesfield with his wife and children, later at 207, Black Road, Macclesfield. He was by occupation a cotton spinner in the employ of Globe Cotton Spinning and Manufacturing Company Ltd at Lower Heyes Mill, Macclesfield for 20 years. he had previously served with the Volunteer Battalion, 7th Cheshire Regiment. On the 10th April 1909 he married Miss Harriet Slater at St Pauls Church, Macclesfield and they had the following issues. William, born 13th September 1909, Amelia, born 8th May 1911, Arthur James, born 29th May 1913 and James Henry, 10th August 1914 all at Macclesfield.
On the 6th November 1914 he was discharged medically unfit for further service. On the 12th December 1914 he re-enlisted as Private 290871, 7th Cheshire Regiment. He was living with his wife at 8, Hollins Road, Macclesfield, formerly, 207, Black Road, Macclesfield, his occupation had not changed. He had previously served 5 years with the 5th Volunteer Battalion, Cheshire Regiment, and 2 years with the 7th Cheshire Regiment. After he finished his training he was posted to the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force on the 17th July 1915 from Devonport to the 10th September 1915. In England form the 11th to the 12th July 1916, he then returned to rejoin the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force on the 13th July 1916 from Devonport, disembarking at Alexandria, and he joined his battalion in Egypt on the 9th August 1916, he left Egypt on the 17th December 1916. In England from the 18th to 12th April 1917 when he was medically discharged. He was wounded on the Gallipoli Peninsular and was treated at 19th General Hospital, with a gunshot wound to he right leg. On the 23rd August 1915 he was transferred to England of Hospital Ship, Braemar Castle.
The following are notes from his medical board. He served 184 days with the M.E.F. and was wounded in Gallipoli. Prior to enlistment he had been employed for 20 years by the Globe Cotton Spinning Co, Macclesfield and he lived at 67, Saville Street, Macclesfield. His disability was Chronic Interstitial Inflammation of the right lung which originated on the 2nd September 1916 at Ismailia he was admitted into the 2nd Field Hospital, with pneumonia and pleurisy. He was in hospital for a fortnight and then sent to Cairo for 3 months to the 26th General Hospital. He was invalided to England on Hospital Ship, Dunluce Castle. on the 4th November 1916 to the 2nd Western General Hospital, Keald Place, Manchester. He was discharged from the hospital on the 24th March 1917.
