Research for Major Tristan George Lance Ballance

Hello. My son is researching a school project on WW2, for completion next week, on Major Tristan George Lance Ballance from the Durham Light Infantry. The research will be included in a book to be published in 2019.
Details known:
Major, 73434, Durham Light Infantry, 16th Bn.
Death: 4/12/43. Aged 27 During the Winter Line nr Naples in Italy
Parents: Sir Hamilton Ashley Ballance, K.B.E., C.B., M.S., F.R.C.S., and of Lady Ballance, of Redgrave, Suffolk.
Casualty
Any information/ photos would be hugely appreciated.

 

Hi Julie

What research have you already undertaken (dont want to double up on stuff) ? being who he is, there is quite a bit about him on the tinternet already

TD

 

Hi. We have quite a lot on his family, education, memorials, lead up to his death etc but we are still researching the following.. his time as a Master at Brighton College prior to the war, and any living descendants. We have researched the family genealogy on Tolliss.com but so far we have not found any living descendants. Also we would like find any images of him, pre or during the War, but we have only found one sketch so far.

 

Living descendants are looking tricky, his brother (RN) was killed in 1942, unmarried, he himself was killed in 1943 as you know unmarried. The only way to possibly trace living descendants is to follow his sister's life - Rosemary Averil Ballance,

Believe she married a Mr Cope in 1939
England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1916-2005
Name: Rosemary A Ballance
Date of Registration: Apr-May-Jun 1939
Registration district: Westminster
Inferred County: Middlesex
Spouse: Anthony W G Cope
Volume Number: 1a
Page Number: 1220

England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007
Name: Rosemary Averil Cope
Death Age: 80
Birth Date: 2 Oct 1914
Registration Date: Feb 1995
Registration district: Tunbridge Wells
Inferred County: Kent
Register Number: B8
District and Subdistrict: 5761B

TD

 

I can get you a photograph of his headstone in Minturno CWGC cemetery but I am not there next until 30 Apr 18. Is that too late.

Equally, if you track down the War Diary for 16 DLI, the circumstances of his death will be mentioned because he was a senior officer in the Battalion.

Regards

Frank

 

Do you have his citation for the Military Cross that he won at the Battle of Sedjenane on 2 Mar 43.

Frank

 

Major Ballance won 16 DLI's first MC of the war . He led 20 men of the Carrier platoon together with Lt Brian Lax in the defence of a small village just to the north of Sedjenane during a ferocious 3 hour battle during which the German attack was held and over 50 enemy killed .

 

He was killed as the Commander of B Company during an attack on the spur which formed the eastern rim of the Calabritto basin which ran south from Mount Camino , nicknamed Barearse spur .

 

Assume you have contacted Brighton College
About Brighton College - Brighton College

 

Photo taken in 1942

 

Julie after all the info/ photo you were given can you tell us what is happening with the book ?

 

Hi,

The OP was a "one day wonder" and hasn't signed into the Forum since her 2 posts on 6th April 2018.

Your best bet might be to send her a Personal Message?

Steve

 

I thought as much Steve after supplying her with a photo and information on Maj Ballance she couldn't even be bothered to say thank you , manners cost nothing !!

 

Major BALLANCE, TRISTAN GEORGE LANCE
Service Number 73434
Died 04/12/1943
Aged 27
16th Bn., Durham Light Infantry
M C
Son of Sir Hamilton Ashley Ballance, K.B.E., C.B., M.S., F.R.C.S., and of Lady Ballance, of Redgrave, Suffolk. B.A. (Oxon.); Cricket Blue.
INSCRIPTION: HIS LIFE A BEAUTIFUL MEMORY HIS DEATH A LASTING GRIEF. SO DEARLY LOVED
Buried at MINTURNO WAR CEMETERY


Kyle

 

Thanks gents , there seems to be confusion between his citation / gazette and the name on his grave etc , Tristan and Thomas !

 

I've just stumbled on the fairly recent creation (July 2019) of a Wikipedia page for Major T G L Ballance MC

Tristan Ballance - Wikipedia

It concentrates on his extensive pre-war cricket career, but covers the basics of his Army service, too.

 

You might be pleased to know I have found all this very useful, thank you very much. I do a yearly Christmas Advent tree at a festival remembering 25 people of all ranks and walks of life who died in the days leading up to Christmas. This year being 1943 and always on the lookout for interesting people. Thanks once again your hard work will be put to good use, as many people read the book with info which I put next to the tree.