Captain, Leslie Arthur BALLANCE
Aged 27
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Leslie Arthur Ballance was born in Blackheath Park, London (Woolwich Q1-1889 1D:1218). He was the son of Arthur William and Jane Peek
BALLANCE (née FREAN).
1891 census...Aged 3, he was at Park Lodge, Blackheath Park with his father Arthur William BALLANCE [40] stock and share dealer, born in Homerton, London; his mother Jane P. [25] born in New? SE London; sister Marjorie D [1] born Blackheath Park; aunt Emily ANDREW [53] born Hackney and cousin Grace E ANDREW [25] born Earl Soham, Suffolk. 1901 census...Aged 13, he was at school at Hildersham House, St Peter Intra, Isle of Thanet, Kent. His parents were still at Blackheath Park Lodge, with sister Marjorie and sisters Nora P. [9], Hazel M. [7] and Eileen R [5] all three born in Blackheath Park. 1911 census...None of his family have been found in this census, perhaps abroad on holiday or business ? His connection with Herringswell seems to be his family having a house there (The Manor House) |
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Enlisted in Bury St.Edmunds. Leslie appears on the roll of honour of the Stock Exchange, also on the war memorial in Bury St Edmunds and at Eton College. He left Eton in 1907. From de Ruvigny's ROLL OF HONOUR 1914-18 Part 3, page 14: BALLANCE, LESLIE ARTHUR, Capt., 2nd Battn. (60th Foot) The King's Royal Rifle Corps. s. of Arthur William Ballance. of Park Lodge. Blackheath Park, London, S.E.. and the Manor House, Herringswell. co. Suffolk. by his wife. Jane Peek, dau. of G. M. Frean : b. London. 9 Jan. 1889): educ. Eton. and Trinity College. Cambridge. In Aug. 1914. he obtained a commission in the 15th County of London Regt., but was transferred to the King's Royal Rifle Corps. March. 1915; served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders : was present at the Second Battle of Ypres, and was invalided home 12 Sept. 1915 : rejoined his Regiment on recovery, and was killed in action during the Battle of the Somme 27 Oct. 1916. Buried at Flers. His Colonel wrote : "It is with the deepest regret I write to tell you all about your son's death. At about 4 p.m. on 27 Sept., when a bombing attack on the Germans in the -- line was in progress, a report was received by me that the Germans were giving ground. It was essential that the battalion on our right should have the information at once, so as to co-operate and for greater chance of success I wanted to send an officer, but none was available. Your son Leslie, hearing this, volunteered, and ran across towards the battalion on our right. . . . After he had gone about 60 yards out of the 100 yards, I heard a bullet fired from a distance. Your son ran on, but almost at once a bullet struck him. . . . He fell on his face and never moved again. . . . He was fearless to a fault, and a very gallant officer. . . . He is most sorely missed by all." Unm. Also, from the Memorial Book of the Stock Exchange:- CAPTAIN LESLIE ARTHUR BALLANCE, King's Royal Rifle Corps, was born in 1889, and educated at Eton and Trinity College, Cambridge. He became a member of the Stock Exchange in 1911 and a partner in his father's firm, Marnham and Co., in 1914. On the outbreak of war he was given a commission in the 15th County of London Regiment, but transferred to the King's Royal Rifle Corps early in 1915. He went to France in May, fought in the second battle of Ypres, and was invalided home in August. Rejoining his Regiment in September 1916 as a Company Commander, he was killed on 27 September. He had volunteered for a dangerous duty and lost his life in its execution. His Colonel wrote: “I at once fell under the same quiet charm which he exercised over all with whom he came in contact. He was fearless to a fault and a very gallant officer." A brother officer wrote: "A better and finer character I never knew in all my life, and we always wanted to serve together out here. He simply was too wonderful in the show, never had a fear, and was so calm and splendid. The men just loved him and did anything for him . . . I can only say he was the finest man I ever knew." |
plaque in St Ethelbert's Church,Herringswell photo John Stokes www.rutlandremembers.org
click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details