88154
BALFOUR, Percival William
| Service Number: | 1587 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 27 July 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 32nd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Norwood, South Australia, 3 November 1894 |
| Home Town: | Rose Park, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Norwood Primary School |
| Occupation: | Clerk / Jeweller |
| Died: | 27 July 1969, aged 74 years, cause of death not yet discovered, place of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: | Norwood Primary School Honour Board |
World War 1 Service
| 27 Jul 1915: | Enlisted | |
|---|---|---|
| 18 Nov 1915: | Involvement Private, 1587, 32nd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '17' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Geelong embarkation_ship_number: A2 public_note: '' | |
| 18 Nov 1915: | Embarked Private, 1587, 32nd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Geelong, Adelaide | |
| 11 Nov 1918: | Involvement Corporal, 1587, 32nd Infantry Battalion |
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Son of John BALFOUR and Mary Emiline nee McLACHLAN
Biography contributed by Adelaide Botanic High School
William Percival Balfour was born on the 3rd of November 1894. He was raised in the town of Norwood, by his mother Mary Emiline nee McLachlan and Father John Balfour. He attended Norwood Primary School, and later had his name engraved on the school honour board for service in the Great World War. He was affiliated with the Church of England (Christian), and on his attestation papers for enlistment it mentioned that he was not married. His occupation before enlisting was a jeweller. He moved house from Norwood to Rose Park, as this was his place of settlement upon time of enlistment in the army. William was 5 foot 41/2, weighed 141 pounds and had a fair complexion (National Archives of Australia, 2023).
William had no previous military service, but he enlisted on the 27th of July 1915, at the age of 20 years and 8 months. His unit was raised at Mitcham, on the outskirts of Adelaide. His unit embarked from Geelong, Adelaide on the 18th of November 1915, as a private aboard the HMAT A2 Geelong. He was given his service number 1587 and was appointed to the 32nd Infantry Battalion. The 8th Brigade joined the 32nd Battalion in Egypt, then proceeded to France for the Western Front.
During his service he was hospitalised with scabies in 1916 and was promoted to Lance Corporal and then Corporal in 1917.
A year later in 1919, the 32nd Infantry Battalion was disbanded. William Percival Balfour was then demobilized and returned home to Australia on the 18 of January 1919.
He ldied on the 27th July 1969, but had no cemetery record as he was cremated. William was given three medals in recognition of his bravery and service in the great world war. The 1914-1915 Star, British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
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