William Alfred BELSEY

Regimental number9549
Place of birthSittingbourne, Kent, England
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationLabourer
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation21
Height5' 6"
Weight119 lbs
Next of kinMother, Mrs T Chapman, Key Street, Sittingbourne, Kent, England
Previous military serviceServed in the Royal Marines (discharge purchased).
Enlistment date7 August 1915
Place of enlistmentBlackboy Hill, Western Australia
Rank on enlistmentGunner
Unit nameDivisional Ammunition Column 2, Reinforcement 1
AWM Embarkation Roll number25/90/2
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A34 Persic on 22 November 1915
Rank from Nominal RollGunner
Unit from Nominal Roll5th Field Artillery Brigade
FateReturned to Australia 6 May 1919
Discharge date1 August 1919
Other details

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Disembarked Suez, 21 December 1915, and proceeded to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force. Taken on strength, 2nd Divisional Ammunition Column, Heliopolis, 22 December 1915; posted to No 2 Section, Tourah, 27 December 1915. Transferred to 5th Field Artillery Brigade, Zeitoun, 21 January 1916. Taken on strength of 22nd Howitzer Brigade and posted to 105th Battery, 10 March 1916. Taken on strength of 2nd Division Artillery Headquarters, Ismailia, 15 March 1916.

Proceeded from Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 17 March 1916; disembarked Marseilles, 23 March 1916. Transferred to 5th Field Artillery Brigade, 14 April 1916; taken on strength of 22nd Howitzer Brigade, 16 April 1916. Mustered as Driver, 1 October 1916.

On leave to united Kingdom, 24 February 1918; rejoined unit from leave, 12 March 1918.

Admitted to 7th Australian Field Ambulance, 14 May 1918 (defective vision); discharged to duty, 17 May 1918.

Admitted to 55th Casualty Clearing Station, 25 September 1918 (impetigo); transferred by Ambulance Train to 3rd Stationary Hospital, Rouen, 26 September 1918; to 2nd Convalescent Depot, Rouen, 28 September 1918; to Australian General Base Depot, Havre, 10 October 1918. Transferred to 2nd Divisional Ammunition Column, 19 October 1918; to 5th Field Artillery Brigade, 4 November 1918. On leave from France, 9 December 1918; rejoined unit, 30 December 1918.

Found guilty, 9 January 1919, of being absent without leave from 0600 21 December to 0600 30 December 1918: awarded 14 days' Field Punishment No 2; forfeited a total of 23 days' pay.

Embarked for England for return to Australia, 26 February 1919.

Commenced return to Australia on board 'Kaiser I Hind', 6 May 1919; disembarked Fremantle, 9 June 1919; discharged, 1 August 1919.

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal