Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Excerpt from Blood Sweat and Fears: Medical Practitioners and Medical Students of South Australian who Served in World War 1. Courtesy of the Authors

Claude Joseph Ballinger was born in Clare, South Australia on 9th January 1898. He was the son of William Ballinger and his second wife, Victoria Adelaide, nee Fryar; she was a teacher, and sister of his first wife. He was educated at Naracoorte District High School and Adelaide High School. He did well at his secondary schooling, winning a government Exhibition scholarship and the Tennyson Medal for English Literature. He commenced a medical course but after one year decided to enlist in the AIF. He had been with the senior cadets for 4 years and 2 years with the AAMC. 

Ballinger enlisted as a private in the AIF on 11th July 1918 and on 29th July 1918. At that time he was 5ft 8ins tall and weighed 135lbs, he was described as having a medium complexion, light grey eyes and dark brown hair. His father William of Wolseley South Australia was named next of kin. He was allotted to the 5th General Reinforcements and was later posted to the 27th Battalion.  Ballinger left for England on 14th November 1918. He contracted influenza on the journey and on disembarkation on 18th January 1919 was said to have pleurisy and he was admitted to the Military Hospital at Tillworth. He later contracted mumps and was sent to a Quarantine Hospital. Some records indicate that he contracted tuberculosis. He developed a pleural effusion and was admitted to 1AGH on 31st March1919. This eventually led to Ballinger losing one lung. On discharge from hospital he was said to be unfit for further service and was returned to Australia on the Hospital Ship Wandilla. He disembarked in 4 MD on 16th May 1919. His enlistment was terminated 0n 16th June1919.  He was issued with the British War Medal.

Ballinger resumed his medical studies at the University of Adelaide but obviously struggled with progress and did not pass the fifth year on two occasions. He went to New Guinea as a medical scientist and then to England to further his medical studies.  However the climate affected his lung condition and he returned to Australia and abandoned his medical studies. He gained a position with FH Faulding, with his medical knowledge, in Perth, Western Australia. He left Fauldings to join GP Pharmaceuticals eventually becoming managing director of the company in Sydney until his retirement in 1957. Ballinger married Gertrude June Bastian on 29 June 1942 in New South Wales. They moved back to South Australia in 1972 because of the climate. Claude Joseph Ballinger died on 22nd September 1982 in Adelaide. He is buried in the North Road Cemetery. He is still survived by his wife who resides in North Adelaide.

Sources:

http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/NameSearch/Interface/ItemDetail.aspx?Barcode=3047670

The Adelaide Advertiser Newspaper

John Ballinger, family records.

Biographical Index of South Australians 1836-1885

Personal Record University of Adelaide Archives

http://histfam.familysearch.org/getperson.php?personID=I149051&tree=SouthAustralia