Wyndham History

Benjamin Balding (1889-1943)

Item

Placeholder image - Veteran.png

Dublin Core

Type

Title

Benjamin Balding (1889-1943)

Contributor

Date

1918

Publisher

Wyndham City Libraries

Format

text

Language

eng

World War One Veterans Item Type Metadata

Name

Benjamin Balding

Birth Date

Birthplace

Service Number

75473

Enlistment Date

Next of Kin

Mary Ellen Balding
Wife

Address at time of Enlistment

57 North Road
Newport, Victoria

Occupation

Marital Status

Married

Death Date

Place of Burial

Werribee, Victoria

Biographical Text

No.75473  Benjamin Balding
Benjamin Balding was born on 22 December 1889 in Marungi, Victoria to Alfred and Annie Balding (nee Simmie).  
He had ten brothers:
  • William Gerald
  • Richard George
  • John
  • Frank
  • Edward Gerald
  • Jack
  • Alfred
  • George
  • William Alfred
  • Herbert (Herb)
and four sisters:
  • Annie
  • Flora
  • Janet (who died 1883)
  • Janet Louisa Herbert (born after the first Janet) 
Benjamin married Mary Ellen King on the 24 March 1913. 
Werribee Shire Banner, 24 April 1913, p.3.

They had three children:
  • Allan Benjamin - born 1914
  • Frank Irons - born 1918
  • Stanley George - born 1919
All of the children were born in Werribee and both Benjamin and Mary Ellen resided in Werribee for the rest of their lives.

War Service
Benjamin enlisted on 23 April 1918 in Melbourne and was assigned to Australian Flying Corps in Laverton. He was aged 28 years and 3 months, was 5 feet and eight and three quarter inches tall.  Benjamin weighed 161 pounds and had a chest measurement of thirty five to thirty eight inches. His complexion was listed as medium, with brown eyes and fair hair. His next of kin was listed as his wife, Mary Ellen Balding of 57 North Road Newport, Victoria.  All of this was recorded at the time of his enlistment.

According to his records he enlisted for active service abroad and was attached to the Central Flying School in Laverton.  Benjamin was discharged from A.I.F on the 19 November 1919 due to demobilisation of A.I.F. but not due to misconduct.

Post War
According to an Obituary, Benjamin Balding and his brothers carried on a chaff cutting business for a number of years and remained in the district until his death.
Werribee Shire Banner, 20 May 1943, p.3

Another newspaper article noted that Benjamin and Mary Ellen’s third son died on a Saturday morning at the Royal Melbourne Hospital as the result of injuries received in an accident.  He was only 16 years of age.
Williamstown Chronicle, 18 April 1936, p.5

Benjamin Balding passed away at the Wandene Hospital on 11 May 1943, after an illness lasting 6 weeks, he was 53 years of age.  He was buried at the Werribee Cemetery, Victoria.

Medals and Entitlements:
  • None awarded 

Bibliography

War Records
http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/NameSearch/Interface/NameSearchForm.aspx

Family Records
http://search.ancestry.com.au/

Trove
Harvard/Australian citation
1943 'OBITUARY.', Werribee Shire Banner (Vic. : 1911 - 1952), 20 May, p. 3, viewed 18 October, 2014, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article75202018

Harvard/Australian citation
1936 'Master STANLEY BALDING.', Williamstown Chronicle (Vic. : 1856 - 1954), 18 April, p. 5, viewed 18 October, 2014, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article70733895

Harvard/Australian citation
1913 'ORANGE BLOSSOMS.', Werribee Shire Banner (Vic. : 1911 - 1952), 24 April, p. 3, viewed 18 October, 2014, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article74822705

Citation

“Benjamin Balding (1889-1943),” Wyndham History, accessed September 22, 2023, http://www.wyndhamhistory.net.au/items/show/1692.

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