World War 1
Search the known records to date of those lost from the wider Alnwick area in World War 1
Generally showing where they are commemorated, when they died and some basic facts about each person. There are gaps, however, so if you can fill in any missing details do please contact us.
George Halliday Balmer, MM
Forename(s):
George Halliday
Surname:
Balmer, MM
Initial(s):
G H
Service Number:
72390
Rank:
Lance-Corporal
Regiment:
Machine Gun Corps (Infantry), 149th Company
Died:
30/07/1917
Aged:
23
Buried:
Achiet-le-Grand Communal Cemetery & Extension
Service History:
Enlisted at Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland.
Formerly 2864, Northumberland Fusiliers.
Recipient of the Military Medal.
Background:
Born about 1894, at Wooler, 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.
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); Balmer (7); John (4); Sydney (3); & Lindsay (4 months).
In 1911, aged 17, Balmer was an inmate at Stannington & Ponteland Certified Correctional Reformatory.
One of four sons lost: See, also, James Balmer (Regimental Service #10486; Northumberland Fusiliers, 9th [Service] Battalion; Died 20 November 1915) & John Balmer (Regimental Service #21075; Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own [Yorkshire Regiment]; Died 2 April 1917).
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)
