BALAAM, Brian Donald



No.13746, Private, Donald Brian BALAAM
Aged 22


12th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment
Killed in Action between 21st and 25th March 1918


Brian Donald Balaam was born in 1896 in Sapiston (Thetford Q1-1896 4B:368) son of Samuel and Maria Parker BALAAM (née HOWLETT).
All civilian records have him as Brian Donald BALAAM)

1901 census...Aged 5,he was at The Heath, Sapiston with his father Samuel BALAAM [49] hurdle maker born Sapiston; his mother Maria [46] born Gooderstone; brothers Ellis [16] shepherd, Cecil [15] fame labourer and Frank [13] farm labourer. All the brothers were born in Sapiston.

1911 census...Aged 15, a farm labourer, he was in Sapiston with his parents ( father a woodsman) and brother Cecil George (farm labourer). 2 of the 8 siblings had died (Roberta 1879-1905) and Frederick (1890-1892). There were two other sisters, Lily Ellen [1880] and Emily [1882]. His father died in 1911.

Possibly the family moved to Fakenham after Samuel's death, since CWGC have Maria living in Fakenham, as does the pension card.

He was the cousin of Fred Balaam from Sapiston see here



He enlisted Fakenham.
The German Spring Offensive (The Kaiserschlacht) began on the 21st March 1918 and the Germans very quickly pushed the Allies back. The first few days it was all retreat for the British Army.
The 12th Suffolks were in the St Leger-Ecoust-Mory-Ervillers area. One reason for the uncertainty about the day of Brian's death can be imagined from the fact that the war diary simply says for 21st-25 March "In action continuously". Merely staying alive was enough of a problem, yet alone writing reports and compiling statistics. To add to the confusion, CWGC have him in the 12th Suffolk, his medal index card and "Soldier's Personal Effects" has 9th Suffolks.
CWGC has 42 of the 12th Suffolks killed in that period. In fact the battalion only had 2 fit officers by the end of the month, the rest having been killed, wounded or missing.




Cousins Donald and Frederick Balaam commemorated on the family monument in Sapiston churchyard
photo by nic_2 via warmemorialsonline.org.uk




photo: Commonwealth War Graves Commission



Donald Balaam is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, addenda panel
and on the family grave at Sapiston church.

click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details


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