Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Cecil John Balsom was born on 6 March 1883 at Timaru, the second son of Robert Harland and Mary Jane (née Symons) Balsom. He was baptised on 3 June 1883 at St Mary’s Anglican Church, Timaru, his parents both sponsors. Robert and Mary, who both hailed from England, married on 9 October 1880 at St Mary’s Church, Timaru. On 3 July 1882, the Freemasons of Saint John’s Lodge presented a medal to each of the boats’ crews who was instrumental in saving life on the occasion of the shipping disaster in the Timaru Roadstead on the 14 May. Included among the men decorated with medals was R. H. Balsom. Mr Balsom was foreman on the permanent staff of the Landing Service when, in November 1884, the service was transferred from the Harbour Board to the direct control of the Harbour Master and the permanent staff members received three weeks’ notice of dismal. “Captain Webster then engaged as his permanent deputy Mr Balsom, who will henceforth have entire charge under Captain Webster.” It was in December 1893 that Mr Balsom resigned from his position with the Timaru Harbour Board after 14 years of service.

Cecil started his education at Sacred Heart Catholic Boys’ School, Timaru in 1888, the three oldest boys all attending there, and transferred to Timaru Main in 1893. He moved to Geraldine in September 1893, when his father resigned from the employ of the Harbour Board, and about six months later to Gapes Valley. At Geraldine School in 1895 he received a Standard III prize. In December 1900, Mr R. H. Balsom offered for sale his land, etc., at Geraldine, and in early March 1901 a clearing sale – farming stock and plant and household furniture - was held. The family moved to Mangorei, Taranaki. Cecil Balsom married Miss Ivy Anne Eveline Bartlett (Eveline), the mistress at Tarurutangi School, in a quiet wedding on 24 November 1915 at New Plymouth.

Cecil John Balsom enlisted on 2 May 1916 at Trentham. A labourer at Onaero and of Church of England affiliation, he named his wife as next-of-kin – Mrs C. J. Balsom, Tarurutangi, New Plymouth. Private C. J. Balsom embarked with the Wellington Infantry Battalion of the 16th Reinforcements, leaving per the “Mokoia” on 21 August 1916 and reaching Plymouth, England on 24 October. On the first Sunday in June 1917, there was a very large congregation at Whiteley Memorial Church, when a special patriotic service was held, during which a roll of honour was unveiled by his Worship the Mayor. “The roll contains the names of 153 members of the New Zealand forces who have been, or whose parents have been, associated with one or other of the churches in the Whiteley Methodist Circuit.” Recorded there is Private Cecil John Balsom under Sixteenth Reinforcements. C. J. Balsom embarked per the “Pakeha” on 12 April 1919 to return home, arriving on 30 May. He was discharged on 27 June 1919, on the termination of his period of engagement, and awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. Edward Owen Balsom, a son to Cecil and Ivy, born in 1920.

Cecil John Balsom died on 26 June 1966 at New Plymouth, aged 83 years, and was buried at Awanui Cemetery, New Plymouth. Ivy Anne Eveline Balsom was buried alongside when she died in May 1973. Three brothers of Cecil John Balsom served in World War One – James Clement Balsom, Charles Thomas Balsom and William Amos Balsom who died of wounds in France on 1 September 1918. Several nephews of Cecil served in World War Two – Harland Kenneth Balsom, Newton Clive Balsom, Leslie Ralph Balsom, Ian Murray Kenneth Balsom and Sydney Neville Balsom, Charles Snooks (Charlie), Douglas James Snooks and Graham Ronald Snooks. Mary Jane Balsom who died in August 1930 and Robert Harland Balsom who died in January 1939 were buried at Te Henui Cemetery, New Plymouth.

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [17 December 2023]; NZ BDM Indexes (Department of Internal Affairs) [17 December 2023]; School Admission Records (South Canterbury Genealogy Society) [17 December 2023]; South Canterbury Times, 4 July 1882, 12 November 1884, 20 December 1893, Temuka Leader, 21 December 1895, Taranaki Daily News, 27 November 1915, Taranaki Herald, 4 June 1917 (Papers Past) [17 December 2023]; Awanui Cemetery & Te Henui Cemetery burial records (New Plymouth District Council) [17 December 2023]; Awanui Cemetery headstone transcription [17 December 2023]

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file

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