Percy Ballance
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Percy was born in 1888 in Gainsborough, the son of John a coal merchant and his wife Christiana Lucas née Graham. who lived in Gainsborough. John was born in 1866 at Gainsborough, Christiana Lucas Graham was born in 1867 at Gainsborough, they were married in 1887 at Gainsborough, they went on to have 7 children, sadly two died in infancy or early childhood. In the 1911 census Percy is living with his family at 41 Tower Street, Gainsborough. At this time he is 22 years of age and single and is a coal carter for his father, a coal merchant. Percy married Edith Annie Taylor (born 22nd February 1888) at All Saints Church, Beckingham, they live at Supply Sores, Beckingham and have the following children, Oswald born 21st April 1912, Constance born 9th October 1913 and Percy Clifford born 28th November 1915. Commencing 5th June 1916 his widow is awarded a pension of 28 shillings and 9 pence a week. After his death his widow remarried
Sergeant Percy Ballance enlisted in Gainsborough into the 6th battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment. He is eventualy promoted to sergeant. The 6th Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment, sailed from Liverpool on 1st July 1915 and landed in the Dardanelles, Turkey, under Turkish shellfire, on 18th, using barges to get ashore. After three weeks of fighting, heat, flies and dysentery, at 2am on 9th August the 6th Battalion was ordered to attack uphill against Turkish rifle and machinegun fire. Such heavy casualties were caused to the Battalion, and the battalions on each side of them, that the order to retreat was given. Out of five hundred and seventy eight soldiers in the 6th Battalion over four hundred of them became casualties, including Percy Ballance. He has no known grave and his name appears on the Helles Memorial, Turkey.
Percy is commemorated on two memorials in Lincolnshire, the first being a memorial at All Saints Church, Gainsborough, which remembers the bell ringer who died and those who returned. A second memorial in Lincoln Cathedral commemorates bell ringers from the County of Lincolnshire. Dedication on the memorial to the bell ringers of Gainsborough All Saints: ‘The Great War 1914-1918. In affectionate memory of Sergeant P Ballance Lincolnshire Regiment, and in gratitude for the safe return of (three names) who were ringers in this Belfry of All Saints Church, Gainsborough.’ Percy is also mentioned in a book of remembrance, copies of which are kept at All Saints Church and in the library at Gainsborough Information about Percy Ballance has been provided courtesy of the Beckingham and Saundby local history group.
