No.G/43469, Private, Benjamin BALAAM
Aged 21
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Ben Balaam was born in Troston in 1895 (Thingoe Q3-1895 4A:795), youngest son of Harry and Sarah Anne BALAAM (née COE).
1901 census...Aged 6 he was at The Common, Troston with his father Harry BALAAM [40] farm labourer born Honington; his mother Sarah Anne [42]; sisters Bessy [12], Lily [10], Violet [3] and Alice [8 months]; brother George [8]. All except his father were born in Troston. 1911 census...Aged 15 a farm labourer, he was at Troston with his grandparents ? William LANE [60] horseman born Ixworth Thorpe and Betsy [68] born Honington. His widower father was in Troston with sister Elizabeth as housekeeper, brother George (farm labourer) and sisters Violet, Alice and Marjorie Emmie [4]. His mother had died in 1908. The pension card has father Harry at 50 Great Livermere. His elder brother George was killed in 1917 in France with the Suffolk Regiment see here |
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He enlisted in Bury St.Edmunds. The War Diary has:- "During the night of 27th/28th preparations were made for the attack which was timed at 6 am/By 5:30 am the whole four companies of the Battalion were in position EAST of LES BOEUFS. The 4th KINGS occupied the position to the left of the Battn, whilst on the right was a Battn of the 19th Inf.Brigade. The objective to be gained by the Brigade were the German positions in front of TRANSLOY, known as RAINY TRENCH, DEWDROP TRENCH and the dugouts NE of the latter with strong points At 6 am the two leading companies "A" and "C" went forward in the assault preceded by an intense artillery barrage on the German positions. Much opposition was met with from rifle and machine gun fire from the flanks, but the attack was pushed forward and the first objective, RAINY TRENCH gained. Further progress was held up by a strong GERMAN point on out right and by the Germans still in possession of DEWDROP TRENCH on our left. Bombing tactics were employed with success and by 9:30 am the whole objective was in our hands. The German strong point on the right fell tot he remainder of "C" Company, led by their remaining officer 2nd Lieut BRAMPTON. The work of consolidating the captured positions was put in hand, and rapid progress made. German snipers were active against our wounded. The enemy did not attempt to counter attack, and the Battalion was relieved that night by the 4th SUFFOLK REGT." Losses were put at 1 officer killed, 7 wounded; Other ranks 35 killed, 136 wounded, 29 missing. CWGC puts the dead at 58 killed of which only 7 have an identified grave. The Bury Free Press of 2nd December 1916 reported:- A TROSTON SOLDIER MAKES THE GREAT SCARIFICE Mr.Harry Balaam of the Commons, has recently been officially notified that his younger son, Prvt.Ben Balaam of the Middlesex Regiment, was killed in an action in France on October 28th. The deceased, who was only 20 years,was an old scholar of Troston Voluntary School,and joined H.M.Forces inMarch 1915, and after a course of training was granted six days leave,before proceeding to France where, after a few months, he made the great sacrifice on the field battle. Much sympathy is extended to the bereaved family by all the inhabitants of Troston, especially to his aged grandmother, Mrs.Lane, who feels the loss the keenest, as for many years he had lived with her and been most devoted to her.....
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