William Maxfield (cyclist)

William Wallace Maxfield (1916–1943) was a male cyclist who competed for England. During his years of competition he was known as Bill Maxfield.

Bill Maxfield
Personal information
NationalityBritish (English)
BornThird quarter 1916
Sheffield
Died27 December 1943
Sport
ClubKentish Wheelers
Medal record
Cycling
Representing  England
British Empire Games
Gold medal – first place 1938 Sydney10 miles scratch

Cycling career

Maxfield represented England and won a gold medal in the 10 miles scratch race at the 1938 British Empire Games in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. He also competed in three other events; the Road Race, the 1,000 metres Match Sprint and the 1 km Time Trial.[1][2]

In 1939, he won the British National Individual Sprint Championships at Herne Hill.[3]

Personal life

Maxfield was a storekeeper by trade and lived in Hambrook Road, London during 1938.

He was killed during World War II, when serving as a Flight Lieutenant with RAF Coastal Command. He was the captain of Handley Page Halifax "D" of No. 502 Squadron RAF which took off from RAF St Davids at 1244 hours on 27 December 1943. The aircraft was part of an anti shipping strike in the North Atlantic and it was last seen over an enemy vessel at 1750 hours, and last heard from when it transmitted an SOS signal from 45° 48' N 13° 20' W at 1945 hours.[4] He is commemorated at the Runnymede Memorial.[5]

References
  1. "Athletes and results". Commonwealth Games Federation.
  2. "1938 Athletes". Team England.
  3. "Sport Notes". Aberdeen Press and Journal. 17 July 1939. Retrieved 14 November 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  4. "Squadron Number: 502 Summary of Events" (1943 Dec 01 - 1943 Dec 31). Records of the Royal Air Force, Series: AIR 27 - Air Ministry and successors: Operations Record Books, Squadrons, ID: AIR 27/1959/46, p. 10. UK National Archives, UK National Archives.
  5. "Flight Lieutenant William Wallace Maxfield". Commonwealth War Graves.


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