BALCKE, Charles Ernest
| Service Numbers: | 3335, 3335A |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 15 July 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | 13th Field Artillery Brigade |
| Born: | Williamstown, Victoria, Australia, 11 October 1892 |
| Home Town: | Auburn, Boroondara, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Motor driver |
| Died: | Bittern, Victoria, Australia, 8 July 1962, aged 69 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Springvale Botanical Cemetery, Melbourne Boronia, Wall X, Niche 252 |
| Memorials: | Frankston Avenue of Honour Memorial, Hawthorn Auburn Baptist Church Honour Roll WW1 |
World War 1 Service
| 15 Jul 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3335, 22nd Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 26 Nov 1915: | Involvement Private, 3335, 22nd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '14' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Commonwealth embarkation_ship_number: A73 public_note: '' | |
| 26 Nov 1915: | Embarked Private, 3335, 22nd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Commonwealth, Melbourne | |
| 1 Apr 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Gunner, 13th Field Artillery Brigade | |
| 12 Nov 1917: | Wounded AIF WW1, Gunner, 3335, 13th Field Artillery Brigade, Third Ypres, SW to back | |
| 2 Feb 1918: | Promoted AIF WW1, Bombardier, 13th Field Artillery Brigade | |
| 18 Apr 1918: | Honoured Mention in Dispatches, Commonwealth Gazette' No. 57 Gallant Service February to September 1917 | |
| 20 Apr 1918: | Promoted AIF WW1, Corporal, 13th Field Artillery Brigade | |
| 19 Dec 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Sergeant, 3335A, 13th Field Artillery Brigade, 3rd MD, Temp Bombardier Sgt |
Help us honour Charles Ernest Balcke's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Evan Evans
From Dan Jones
tCSM Charles Ernest BALCKE, 3335
Son of Jane (nee Morgan) and John George Balcke.
Born in Williamstown, Vic. on the 11 October 1892.
A motor driver from Auburn, Victoria, a 23 year old Charles enlisted on 15 July 1915, being assigned the service number 3335.
He initially served as a Private in the 22nd Battalion, before being transferred to the 13th Field Artillery Brigade, departing Egypt for France in June of 1916. During his time in France he was wounded in action (a shrapnel wound to the back).
He returned to Australia on 8 July 1919 with the rank of Temporary Bombardier Sergeant Major.
He was mentioned in despatches on 7 November 1917, and was later awarded the Meritorious Service Medal in 1919 for valuable service in France and Flanders.
He married Charlotte Selina Butler in 1920.
During WWII he again enlisted, serving as V358351 Private of the 10th Battalion Volunteer Defence Corps from 1942-1945.
He died aged 69 on 8 July 1962 at Bittern, Victoria. He was cremated and his ashes interred at Springvale Botanical Cemetery (Boronia, Wall X, Niche 252). His wife, who died in 1976, is interred next to him.
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