William's Story.
EARLY LIFE
William Oldfield was born in Rainow, Macclesfield in late 1881, the son of Jemima (née Tomkinson) and William Oldfield, a labourer of Rainow. In 1891, nine-year-old William was living at Hough Green, Rainow, with his parents and siblings Allan (11), Mary (8), Walter (4), Leonard (2) and six-month-old Hester.
By 1901 the family had moved to Water Street, Bollington, and included Ruth (23), Allen (21), Mary (18), Walter (13), Leonard (12), Hester (11), Martha (10), Ernest (8), James (6), Nelly (3) and eight-month-old Percy. William had left school and was working as a general labourer. After another ten years William was lodging at the premises of Mr Edward Catterall at 48 Stanley Street, Macclesfield; he was still employed as a general labourer.
At the age of 34, William married 43-year-old widow Hannah Kelly at Christ Church, Macclesfield on 26th June 1916 and the couple set up home at 72 Derby Street, Macclesfield.
WW1 SERVICE
William enlisted in November 1916, joining the Royal Garrison Artillery. He was 5 feet 7 inches tall and stated that he lived at 72 Derby Street, Macclesfield and was employed as a coal bagger or coal carter. He was sent to Fort Brockhurst, Gosport for training.
After training, William was drafted overseas via Folkestone to Boulogne on 8th September 1917. He was admitted to hospital for about six weeks on 3rd May 1918, returning to duty on 16th June 1918.
William was admitted to the 7th Canadian General Hospital at Etaples on 9th October 1918 suffering from gun shot wounds to the legs and hands, and severe effects of gas. He was reported to be seriously ill, and died from his wounds five days later.
William's death was reported in the Macclesfield Times of 1st November 1918; the report included a photograph of William in uniform:
GUNNER WM OLDFIELD, Royal Garrison Artillery, whose wife resides at 72 Derby Street, Macclesfield, and his parents at Brook House, Rainow, has died from the effects of gunshot wounds and gas burns in France. He enlisted in 1916 and trained in Lincolnshire and at Aldershot. Thirty-seven years of age, he was educated at Rainow Church School and was connected with the Macclesfield Corps of the Salvation Army. Before enlistment he was employed as a carter by the Macclesfield Co-operative Society. Three brothers are serving, two in France.
Among the possessions returned to William's wife in May 1919 was a mouth organ.
William's death was remembered by his family in the Macclesfield Times of 17 October 1919:
OLDFIELD - In loving memory of my dear husband, Gunner W Oldfield, who died October 14th 1918, from the effects of gun-shot wounds and mustard-gas burns, and was interred at Etaples Cemetery....
From his wife - 72, Derby Street.
OLDFIELD - In loving memoery of our dear brother, Gunner William Oldfield, died October 14th, 1918, from mustard-gas burns....
From his dear sisters, Ruth and Polly, and brothers-in-law, Jack and Tom, also his nephew Charles.
COMMEMORATION
Gunner William Oldfield is buried in Grave Ref. LXVII. J. 29. of Etaples Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission holds casualty details for Gunner William Oldfield.
In Macclesfield, Gunner William Oldfield is commemorated on the Park Green, Town Hall and St Michael’s Church war memorials.
Elsewhere, he is named on the Rainow war memorial, near Macclesfield.
NOTES
Brother of 244309 Private Ernest Oldfield, who served with the 1/7th and 5th Cheshire Regiments; 14235 Private James Herbert Oldfield, who served with the 10th and 15th Cheshire Regiments and was wounded in 1916; and Walter Oldfield, who emigrated to Canada and joined the Canadian forces.
SOURCES
GRO (England & Wales) Index: Births, Marriages
Cheshire Parish Marriage Registers : Christ Church, Macclesfield (Ancestry)
Census (England & Wales): 1891, 1901, 1911
WWI British Army Service Records (Find My Past)
WWI British Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects (Ancestry)
Commonwealth War Graves Commission website
Macclesfield Division Absent Voters Lists for 1918 (British Library)
Macclesfield Times: 11 August 1916, 1 November 1918, 17 October 1919
Research by Rosie Rowley, Congleton.