Thank you to Jim Edwards for this research.
James Balchin was born in Cranleigh in early 1874. In 1881 he was living in Horsham with his parents, six brothers and one sister, and in 1891 he was in Ockley.
He joined the Royal Artillery (99498) on 23rd September 1893 for 7 years with the colors [sic] and 5 years on the reserve, giving his trade as blacksmith. On 8th October he was posted to 28 Field Battery. He “passed board as proficient for appointment as a shoeing smith” in October 1895, and as a skilled carriage smith in September 1897 but was not actually appointed as a shoeing smith until November 1899. On 5th December he set off for the war in South Africa, which went on to May 1902. He received the Queen’s South Africa Medal with clasps for Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, Tugela Heights (February 1900), Relief of Ladysmith (January and February 1900). He also received the rarer King’s South Africa Medal which was only awarded to those who had served there for more than 18 months and were still there in 1902. He was promoted to corporal shoesmith in April 1902. On 28th August he was posted from 28 Battery to the depot and arrived back in Britain on 22nd September 1902. He transferred from full time service to the reserve in February 1903 and completed his reserve commitment on 22nd September 1905, after a total of twelve years’ service. His parents were living in Ockley when he enlisted and later at 1 Holm Terrace, Flint Hill, North Holmwood.
He married Rosetta Meacock in 1906 in Southwark and in 1911 they were living in Peckham with two young children and one of his younger brothers. James was a “Journeyman Farrier”. His parents were still in Holm Terrace.
James moved to South Africa in August 1913. He served in the army (Number 4754), becoming a Sergeant Major (Warrant Officer 1) in 7th Battalion, South African Horse. (He was a volunteer as South Africa did not have conscription.) He left Roberts Heights, a large military base near Pretoria, on 30th April 1916, embarked on the Armadale Castle on 1st May and landed in Kilindini, the port of Mombasa in Kenya, on 8th May. He was then sent to German East Africa (later Tanganyika, now part of Tanzania), where he contracted fever. He arrived back in Durban on the hospital ship Ebani on 2nd February 1917 and died from a lung abscess in No 4 General Hospital at Roberts Heights on 11th March 1917 at the age of 42. He was buried at what is now called Thaba Tshwane (Old No 1) Military Cemetery, then known as Roberts Heights and later Voortrekkerhoogte. His widow Rosetta was shown in official records as living in Tamboers Kloof, near Cape Town, but was reported in the Dorking Advertiser as being in Daventry, where records show her after the war. She did not accompany James when he emigrated in 1913, so perhaps she only lived briefly in South Africa.
A GOOD RECORD
Information has been received of the death in South Africa of Sergt-Major James Balchin, of the 7th South African Horse, The son of Mr. and Mrs. George Balchin, of Holm Terrace, Flint Hill, the deceased had a fine military record. He served through the South African War in the Royal Field Artillery, returning to England at the close. When the present war broke out he went back, and took part in the campaign in German West Africa, and that having been brought to a successful issue his regiment was transferred to German East Africa, where it gave an equally good account of itself. It was during these operations that Sergt-Major Balchin gained his last promotion. Unhappily he contracted fever a few weeks ago, and died in hospital at Pretoria on March 10th. He was well known in the Ockley and Holmwood district. He leaves a widow, who is now living at Daventry, North Hants, and two little girls.
James Balchin Death Notice 6th January 1917 © Dorking Advertiser findmypast.co.uk
SURREY AND THE WAR
SERGT-MAJOR J. Balchin
7th South African Light Horse
The death from fever in hospital at Pretoria of Sergt.-Major Balchin, son of Mr. and Mrs. George Balchin, of Holme Terrace, Flint Hill, Dorking, was reported in our last issue.
James Balchin Death Notice © Dorking Advertiser
| Born | Cranleigh | |
|---|---|---|
| Lived | Horsham | |
| Husband of | Rosetta Meacock | |
| Regiment | 7th Battalion. South African Light Horse Regiment | |
| Number | 4754 | |
| Date of Death | 11th March 1917 | |
| Place of Death | South Africa | |
| Cause of Death | Died of fever | |
| Age | 42 | |
| Cemetery | Thaba Tshwane (Old No. 1) Military Cemetery, South Africa |
