Clarence George Belshaw

Enlisted underage 4th June 1915 Entered Theatre in Egypt 7th December 1915 Arrived in Salonika on 7th February 1916 on SS Winifredian Reported missing 7th October 1916 On 7th October 1916, two patrols consisting of a Troop each went sent to the village of Kalendra supported by armoured cars. The Bulgarian defenders stayed low in their trenches and were unseen until the patrols were on top of them. They then opened fire killing five men including Belshaw, 842 Corporal John Gallimore, 2653 Private George Ernest Morriss, and 2974 Private Gordon Handley Johnson. It is believed that the fifth fatality was 1634 Private Philip Martin Smith who is listed as dying on 6th October 1916 on CWGC but 7th October on SDGW. NB Johnson is listed as being killed in action on the 7th on SDGW but as not dying until 12th October on CWGC. Renumbered 275894 in 1917 Death later accepted as having occurred 7th October 1916 He is commemorated on the Doiran Memorial

Mansfield Chronicle Advertiser: 09/11/1916 Two Belshaw Brothers. Both have been wounded and one is missing. Clarence enlisted 04/06/1915 and has been reported as missing and wounded, hopes that he is a prisoner of war. Victor, aged 23 has been wounded in the leg, which has had had to be amputated. Both worked for Johnson's Reed and Little Matlock mills. Photographs of the brothers were printed in the following weeks edition. Clarence's brother, 43050 Private George Victor Belshaw served with 15th Battalion Duke of Wellington's (West Riding) Regiment and was wounded resulting in having to have a leg amputated. He was discharged on 9th July 1918