Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

William Amos Balsom, known as Willie, was born on 13 December 1896 at Geraldine (or Timaru), the sixth son of Robert Harland and Mary Jane (née Symons) Balsom. 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 14th 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. 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.

Willie Balsom was educated at Upper Mangorei School, New Plymouth, starting in the new year after his fifth birthday and leaving soon after his fourteenth birthday. The name of W. A. Balsom, farmer, Upper Mangorei, was drawn in the ninth ballot at the beginning of July 1917. He enlisted on 24 July 1917 at New Plymouth. He was 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighed 156 pounds. His eyes were hazel and his hair brown. A farmer residing at Mangorei, Taranaki, single and Wesleyan, he named his mother as next-of-kin – Mrs Mary Jane Balsom, Mangorei, Taranaki. He had served with the 11th Regiment Taranaki Rifles for a year and was still serving. He was with the New Plymouth quota of the 33rd Reinforcements that proceeded to camp on 22 August.

Private W. A. Balsom embarked with the Auckland Infantry Regiment of the 32ndy Reinforcements on 22 November 1917 per the “Willochra” and disembarked at Liverpool, England on 7 January 1918. Not eight months later – on 1 September 1918 - he died of wounds “Somewhere in France”, aged 21 years. He was buried at Adanac Military Cemetery, Miraumont, Somme, France. Regularly for many years after, Willie’s family remembered him with poignant In Memoriam notices.

“He left his home, the flower of youth,

He seemed so strong and brave

We little thought how soon he would

Be laid in a hero’s grave;

But the hardest blow is yet to come,

When the warriors all return,

And we look for our darling boy

Who never will return.

To-day, as we look at his photo,

A likeness so lovely and true,

Do you know how our hearts are aching

and longing Dear Willie for you.

God knows how much we miss you,

And He counts the tears we shed

And whispers: Hush he only sleeps,

Your loved one is not dead.”

“In a distant land he lies,

At rest in a soldier’s grave;

His battle fought, his name enrolled

On the scroll of the deathless brave.

A lonely grave in a far off land,

A grave we may never see,

But while life and memory last

We will remember thee.”

“Our thoughts they ever wander.

To a soldier’s honoured grave,

Never will we forget dear Willie,

The noble sacrifice you made.

For our hearts are still united,

In that same fond love for you,

And loving thoughts are cherished,

For one so brave and true.”

Three brothers of William Amos Balsom served in World War One – Cecil John Balsom, James Clement Balsom and Charles Thomas Balsom. Several nephews of William 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 (New Plymouth Branch NZSG) [17 December 2023]; South Canterbury Times, 4 July 1882, 12 November 1884, 20 December 1893, Hawera & Normanby Star, 4 July 1917, Taranaki Herald, 14 August 1917, Taranaki Daily News, 23 September 1918, 30 August 1919, 1 September 1921, 1 September 1922, 1 September 1923, 1 September 1924, 1 September 1925, 1 September 1927, 1 September 1928, 1 September 1929 (Papers Past) [17 December 2023]

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file
• Other military personnel file

Related Documents

• BALSOM William Amos - newspaper clippings (pdf, 337.6 KB updated 16-Jan-2024)

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