Research for Major Tristan George Lance Ballance

Discussion in 'Durham Light Infantry' started by julie pankhurst, Apr 6, 2018.

  1. julie pankhurst

    julie pankhurst New Member

    Hello. My son is researching a school project on WW2, for completion next week, on Major Tristan George Lance Ballance from the Durham Light Infantry. The research will be included in a book to be published in 2019.
    Details known:
    Major, 73434, Durham Light Infantry, 16th Bn.
    Death: 4/12/43. Aged 27 During the Winter Line nr Naples in Italy
    Parents: Sir Hamilton Ashley Ballance, K.B.E., C.B., M.S., F.R.C.S., and of Lady Ballance, of Redgrave, Suffolk.
    Casualty
    Any information/ photos would be hugely appreciated.
     
  2. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    Hi Julie

    What research have you already undertaken (dont want to double up on stuff) ? being who he is, there is quite a bit about him on the tinternet already

    TD
     
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  3. julie pankhurst

    julie pankhurst New Member

    Hi. We have quite a lot on his family, education, memorials, lead up to his death etc but we are still researching the following.. his time as a Master at Brighton College prior to the war, and any living descendants. We have researched the family genealogy on Tolliss.com but so far we have not found any living descendants. Also we would like find any images of him, pre or during the War, but we have only found one sketch so far.
     
  4. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    Living descendants are looking tricky, his brother (RN) was killed in 1942, unmarried, he himself was killed in 1943 as you know unmarried. The only way to possibly trace living descendants is to follow his sister's life - Rosemary Averil Ballance,

    Believe she married a Mr Cope in 1939
    England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1916-2005
    Name: Rosemary A Ballance
    Date of Registration: Apr-May-Jun 1939
    Registration district: Westminster
    Inferred County: Middlesex
    Spouse: Anthony W G Cope
    Volume Number: 1a
    Page Number: 1220

    England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007
    Name: Rosemary Averil Cope
    Death Age: 80
    Birth Date: 2 Oct 1914
    Registration Date: Feb 1995
    Registration district: Tunbridge Wells
    Inferred County: Kent
    Register Number: B8
    District and Subdistrict: 5761B

    TD
     
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  5. minden1759

    minden1759 Senior Member

    I can get you a photograph of his headstone in Minturno CWGC cemetery but I am not there next until 30 Apr 18. Is that too late.

    Equally, if you track down the War Diary for 16 DLI, the circumstances of his death will be mentioned because he was a senior officer in the Battalion.

    Regards

    Frank
     
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  6. minden1759

    minden1759 Senior Member

    Do you have his citation for the Military Cross that he won at the Battle of Sedjenane on 2 Mar 43.

    Frank
     
  7. PaulE

    PaulE Senior Member

    Major Ballance won 16 DLI's first MC of the war . He led 20 men of the Carrier platoon together with Lt Brian Lax in the defence of a small village just to the north of Sedjenane during a ferocious 3 hour battle during which the German attack was held and over 50 enemy killed .
     
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  8. PaulE

    PaulE Senior Member

    He was killed as the Commander of B Company during an attack on the spur which formed the eastern rim of the Calabritto basin which ran south from Mount Camino , nicknamed Barearse spur .
     
  9. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

  10. PaulE

    PaulE Senior Member

    Photo taken in 1942
     

    Attached Files:

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  11. PaulE

    PaulE Senior Member

    Julie after all the info/ photo you were given can you tell us what is happening with the book ?
     
  12. Tullybrone

    Tullybrone Senior Member

    Hi,

    The OP was a "one day wonder" and hasn't signed into the Forum since her 2 posts on 6th April 2018.

    Your best bet might be to send her a Personal Message?

    Steve
     
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  13. PaulE

    PaulE Senior Member

    I thought as much Steve after supplying her with a photo and information on Maj Ballance she couldn't even be bothered to say thank you , manners cost nothing !!
     
  14. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    Then this is for the next person who might need more info...

    Recommendation for Award for Ballance, Thomas George Lance Rank: Temporary Major... | The National Archives
    Reference: WO 373/2/176
    Name Ballance, Thomas George Lance
    Rank: Temporary Major
    Service No: 73434
    Regiment: 16 Battalion Durham Light Infantry
    Theatre of Combat or Operation: North Africa (Algeria, Tunisia)
    Award: Military Cross
    Date of announcement in London Gazette: 23 September 1943
    Screenshot 2019-08-03 at 20.25.57.png Screenshot 2019-08-03 at 20.26.09.png

    London Gazette, 23 Sep 1943:
    https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/36180/supplement/4218/data.pdf
    https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/36180/supplement/4216/data.pdf
    War Office, 23rd September, 1943.
    The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the following awards in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in North Africa: —
    The Military Cross.
    Captain (temporary Major) Tristan George Lance Ballance (73434), The Durham Light Infantry (Hartley Wintney, Hants).

    London Gazette, 25 June, 1940
    https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34880/supplement/3855/data.pdf
    Durham L.I.
    2nd Lt. T. G. L. Ballance (73434), from T.A. Gen. List (Brighton Coll. Contgt., Jun. Div., O.T.C.), to be 2nd Lt. 1st May 1940.
    (Substituted for the notifn. in the Gazette (Supplement) dated 11th June 1940.)


    :poppy:
    Casualty
    Major BALLANCE, TRISTAN GEORGE LANCE
    Service Number 73434
    Died 04/12/1943
    Aged 27
    16th Bn., Durham Light Infantry
    M C
    Son of Sir Hamilton Ashley Ballance, K.B.E., C.B., M.S., F.R.C.S., and of Lady Ballance, of Redgrave, Suffolk. B.A. (Oxon.); Cricket Blue.
    INSCRIPTION: HIS LIFE A BEAUTIFUL MEMORY HIS DEATH A LASTING GRIEF. SO DEARLY LOVED
    Buried at MINTURNO WAR CEMETERY
    Location: Italy
    Cemetery/memorial reference: II, E, 21.
     
  15. Mr Jinks

    Mr Jinks Bit of a Cad

    [​IMG]
    Major BALLANCE, TRISTAN GEORGE LANCE
    Service Number 73434
    Died 04/12/1943
    Aged 27
    16th Bn., Durham Light Infantry
    M C
    Son of Sir Hamilton Ashley Ballance, K.B.E., C.B., M.S., F.R.C.S., and of Lady Ballance, of Redgrave, Suffolk. B.A. (Oxon.); Cricket Blue.
    INSCRIPTION: HIS LIFE A BEAUTIFUL MEMORY HIS DEATH A LASTING GRIEF. SO DEARLY LOVED
    Buried at MINTURNO WAR CEMETERY
    1943_12_04_ballance_tristan.jpg

    Kyle
     
  16. PaulE

    PaulE Senior Member

    Thanks gents , there seems to be confusion between his citation / gazette and the name on his grave etc , Tristan and Thomas !
     
  17. Cpl Hadaway

    Cpl Hadaway Active Member

    I've just stumbled on the fairly recent creation (July 2019) of a Wikipedia page for Major T G L Ballance MC

    Tristan Ballance - Wikipedia

    It concentrates on his extensive pre-war cricket career, but covers the basics of his Army service, too.
     
  18. General Knowledge

    General Knowledge Well-Known Member

    You might be pleased to know I have found all this very useful, thank you very much. I do a yearly Christmas Advent tree at a festival remembering 25 people of all ranks and walks of life who died in the days leading up to Christmas. This year being 1943 and always on the lookout for interesting people. Thanks once again your hard work will be put to good use, as many people read the book with info which I put next to the tree.
     
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