John Balmer

Forename(s):
John

Surname:
Balmer

Initial(s):
J

Service Number:
21075

Rank:
Private

Regiment:
Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own (Yorkshire Regiment), 2nd Battalion

Died:
02/04/1917

Aged:
20

Buried:
Arras Memorial (Faubourg d'Amiens Cemetery)

Service History:
Enlisted at Wareham, Dorset.

Background:
Born about 1897, at Alnwick, Northumberland, the son of the late Frederick Balmer (b. about 1851, at Ford, Northumberland; in 1901, a Stockman on a farm at Middleton Hall) by his wife Mary Ann Balmer (b. about 1866, at Wooler), of 13, Morrison Street, Gateshead, County Durham. Balmer was still living at Gateshead immediately before the war.

The 1901 Census records a family of seven sons ranging in age from 14 to 4 months - Robert Albert (14); Thomas Frederick (12); James (9); George Halliday (7); Balmer (4); Sydney (3); & Lindsay (4 months).

One of four sons lost: See, also, Lance-Corporal George Halliday Balmer, MM (Regimental Service #72390; Machine Gun Corps [Infantry], 149th Company; Died 30 July 1917) & Private James Balmer (Regimental Service #10486; Northumberland Fusiliers, 9th [Service] Battalion; Died 20 November 1915).

A fourth son was lost during the war. Thomas Frederick Balmer did not serve with the armed forces, rather he worked in the munitions industry & died from Lyddite poisoning.

Local Memorial:
Team Valley, 1914-18 Memorial Chapel & Plaque, originally in St. Paul's Church (now demolished) (Source: newmp.org.uk)