Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of John N. Belshaw a Gun Manufacturers Manager, born 1858 in Leicester and his wife Sarah, born 1860 in Walcote, Leics. Alfred James was employed as a Stay Maker and was born in 1882 in Syston, Leics., his siblings were William Joseph, born 1880 in Barkby, Leics., Ann Ethel, born 1877 in Syston, Leics., Marian J., born 1882 in Barkby, Leics., and Florence Daisy, born 1886 in Syston, Leics., in April 1891 the family home was at Handworth Villa, Maiden Street, Barkby Fosse, Barkby, Leics., in the Ecclesiastical Parish of St. Michael. In March 1901 Alfred was employed as a Sausage Casing Cleaner and was residing in the family home at Maiden Street, Barkby, Leics., in the Ecclesiastical Parish of St. Mary together with his parents and siblings, Ethel, William, Marion and Daisy. In April 1911 Alfred was employed as a Coal Wharf Manager and had been married for one year to Ada, born 1890, they had one daughter Ethel, born 1911 in Barkby, Leics., the family home was at Wanlip Road, Barkby, Leics.

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
In Syston, Alfred Belshaw Road is named in honour of Alfred.
In 2019 the following note was attached to the road name sign, providing passersby with information about his life:

'Alfred James Belshaw Pte 7700 Cheshire Regiment 1st Battalion
He was baptised 29/10/1882.
He was killed in action on 24/8/14 - he was 32 years of age.
His parents were John William Belshaw (a manufacturer) and Sarah (nee Walker) and they lived in Barkby with Alfred and his four brothers and sisters. As an adult Alfred worked as a Clerk. Born Syston.
He married Ada Gilbert (Syston) on 14/05/1910 and lived on Wanlip Road (1911).
We remember Alfred and the other 84 fallen heroes who had connections to Syston and those who made the ultimate sacrifice'.
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Information and photograph sent in by A. Moult, 2019