Profile

BALLANTYNE, James Alexander
(Service number 82039)

Aliases Known as Alexander or Alec
First Rank Last Rank

Birth

Date 16 February 1893 Place of Birth Timaru

Enlistment Information

Date 11 October 1917 Age 24 years
Address at Enlistment Rollesby Station, Burkes Pass
Occupation Shepherd
Previous Military Experience
Marital Status Single
Next of Kin Mrs J. BALLANTYNE (mother), Wharfe Street, Oamaru
Religion Presbyterian
Medical Information

Military Service

Served with NZ Armed Forces Served in Army
Military District

Embarkation Information

Body on Embarkation
Unit, Squadron, or Ship
Date
Transport
Embarked From Destination
Other Units Served With
Last Unit Served With

Military Awards

Campaigns
Service Medals
Military Awards

Award Circumstances and Date

No information

Prisoner of War Information

Date of Capture
Where Captured and by Whom
Actions Prior to Capture
PoW Serial Number
PoW Camps
Days Interned
Liberation Date

Discharge

Date Reason

Hospitals, Wounds, Diseases and Illnesses

Post-war Occupations

Shepherd; station manager

Death

Date 1 July 1944 Age 52 years
Place of Death Burke's Pass
Cause Result of accident - crushed by falling tree
Notices Timaru Herald, 3 July 1944; Otago Daily Times, 3 July 1944; Press, 3 July 1944
Memorial or Cemetery Burke's Pass Cemetery
Memorial Reference Plot 30
New Zealand Memorials

Biographical Notes

James Alexander Ballantyne, known as Alec, was born on 16 February 1892 at Timaru, the second son of the Ninian Ballantyne and Jane Gray (Jeannie, née Hamilton) Ballantyne. His father had died at Hunter in 1911, when the youngest of Alec’s siblings was only a year old. Alec attended the Ashwick Flat School from 1898, leaving in January 1906 for Maheno.

James Alexander Ballantyne, shepherd, Rollesby Station, Burke’s Pass, was called up from the First Division of Reservists at the beginning of October 1917. At the sitting of the Military Service Appeal Board held at Timaru on 6 November, James Alex. Ballantyne was allowed a sine die adjournment as a high country musterer. Come 17 June 1918 and J. A. Ballantyne was in a big draft for the 43rd Reinforcement which would leave for camp. The 43rd Reinforcements would be approximately the same size as tho forty-second. and would include a fair proportion of volunteers. The response to the appeal for volunteers to enter camp immediately had been very satisfactory, and the draft was practically of the required strength.

Alec married Doris Amelia Grieve on 19 June 1920 at the Trinity Manse, Timaru. Alec and Doris had two sons and a daughter.

At the monthly meeting of the Mackenzie County Council held on 1 October 1928, it was agreed to provide a gravel track to a petrol pump which Mr J. A. Ballantyne had installed in front of his shop at Burke’s Pass. In May 1935 he was appointed to the Burke’s Pass Committee, one of several committees set up within the newly elected Mackenzie County Council.

He died on 1 July 1944 at Burke’s Pass, Mackenzie Country, aged 51 years, as the result of an accident. The tree which he was assisting to fell broke off unexpectedly, crushing him against the stump. Death was instantaneous. He was buried at Burke’s Pass Cemetery. Doris was buried with him in 1978. At the time of Alec’s death, his older son John was serving overseas in World War Two. His older brother, Ninian Ballantyne known as Ringin, was killed in action at the Dardanelles on 28 August 1915.

Sources

N Z Defence Force Personnel Records (Archives NZ Ref. AABK 18805 W5520 0010851) [24 October 2021]; Timaru Herald, 2 October 1917, 7 November 1917, 15 June 1918, 2 October 1928, 31 July 1935, Otago Daily Times, 3 July 1944, Press, 3 July 1944 (Papers Past) [22 & 24 October 2021]; School Admission Records (South Canterbury Branch NZSG) [August 2013]; Personal family knowledge; Probate record (Archives NZ/Family Search) ]24 October 2021]; Timaru Herald, 3, 4 & 13 July 1944; Burke’s Pass Cemetery records & headstone image; Trinity Presbyterian Church Timaru marriage record transcription; NZ Electoral Rolls

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TS

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