James Balmer

Forename(s):
James

Surname:
Balmer

Initial(s):
J

Service Number:
10486

Rank:
Private

Regiment:
Northumberland Fusiliers, 9th (Service) Battalion

Died:
20/11/1915

Aged:
24

Buried:
Birr Cross Roads Cemetery

Service History:
Enlisted at Bedlington, Northumberland.

Died of wounds received in action.

Background:
Born about 1892, at Wooler, Northumberland, the son of the late Frederick Balmer (b. about 1851, at Ford, Northumberland; in 1901, a Stocksman on a farm at Middleton Hall) by his wife Mary Ann Balmer (b. about 1866, at Wooler), of 13, Morrison Street, Gateshead, County Durham.

'Soldiers Died...' records Balmers place of birth as Blyth, Northumberland but other evidence from Censuses suggests this may be wrong & misleading.

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

One of four sons lost: See, also to George Halliday Balmer, MM (Regimental Service #72390; Machine Gun Corps [Infantry], 149th Company; Died 30 July 1917) & 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)