Pte
David Ingles Ballantyne
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 17/12/1889 |
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Place of birth: Kirkhill, Highland, Scotland, United Kingdom |
General information
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Last known residence: Mosston, Whanganui, Manawatū-Whanganui, New Zealand |
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Profession: Butcher |
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Religion: Scottish Brethren |
Army information
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Country: New Zealand |
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Force: New Zealand Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Private |
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Service number: 3/2882 |
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Enlistment date: 19/10/1916 |
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Enlistment place: Whanganui, Manawatū-Whanganui, North Island, New Zealand |
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Units: — 4th New Zealand Field Ambulance (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 12/10/1917 |
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Place of death: Waterloo, 's Graventafel, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 27 |
Cemetery
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Tyne Cot Cemetery Plot: XVII Row: A Grave: 11 |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 4
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Last known residence | ||
| #3 | Enlistment place | ||
| #4 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
David Ingles Ballantyne was born on 17 December 1889 in Kirkhill, Highland, Scotland. He was the son of Alexander and Agnes Ballantyne. Around 1912, he decided to move to New Zealand. He settled in Whanganui and became a butcher. In 1916, he decided to enlist in the New Zealand Army. He was assigned to the 4th Field Ambulance, New Zealand Medical Corps.
In October 1917, the 4th Field Ambulance was sent to the Ypres sector. October turned out to be a busy month for the medical personnel. On 4 and 9 October, the battles of Broodseinde and Poelkapelle, respectively, took place as part of the Battle of Passchendaele. The 4th Field Ambulance was stationed during those battles in Vlamertinge at the Corps Walking Wounded Collecting Post. On those days, they treated 1983 Allied and 380 German wounded and 1158 Allied and 35 German wounded, respectively. On 12 October, the first attempt to capture Passchendaele itself was made. The New Zealand Division launched an attack in the sector around ’s Graventafel.
On 12 October, the situation for the wounded and the medical personnel was dire. The constant rain and shellfire had made the ground almost impassable. In some cases stretcher-bearers had to walk over 5 km to the ambulance collection posts at Spree Farm and Bridge House. Sometimes it took 7 hours for a wounded soldier, carried by 6 men, to reach a forward dressing station. As a result, it was decided to create shelters near the frontline to gather the wounded before sending them further back. There, they received blankets and food before being evacuated. On that day, the Corps Walking Wounded Collecting Post in Vlamertinge treated 1786 Allied and 99 German wounded.
On the same day, David Ingles Ballantyne was killed at the age of 29 near the frontline. He was initially buried in Waterloo Farm Cemetery. After the war, he was reburied at Tyne Cot Cemetery, plot XVII, row A, grave 11.
In October 1917, the 4th Field Ambulance was sent to the Ypres sector. October turned out to be a busy month for the medical personnel. On 4 and 9 October, the battles of Broodseinde and Poelkapelle, respectively, took place as part of the Battle of Passchendaele. The 4th Field Ambulance was stationed during those battles in Vlamertinge at the Corps Walking Wounded Collecting Post. On those days, they treated 1983 Allied and 380 German wounded and 1158 Allied and 35 German wounded, respectively. On 12 October, the first attempt to capture Passchendaele itself was made. The New Zealand Division launched an attack in the sector around ’s Graventafel.
On 12 October, the situation for the wounded and the medical personnel was dire. The constant rain and shellfire had made the ground almost impassable. In some cases stretcher-bearers had to walk over 5 km to the ambulance collection posts at Spree Farm and Bridge House. Sometimes it took 7 hours for a wounded soldier, carried by 6 men, to reach a forward dressing station. As a result, it was decided to create shelters near the frontline to gather the wounded before sending them further back. There, they received blankets and food before being evacuated. On that day, the Corps Walking Wounded Collecting Post in Vlamertinge treated 1786 Allied and 99 German wounded.
On the same day, David Ingles Ballantyne was killed at the age of 29 near the frontline. He was initially buried in Waterloo Farm Cemetery. After the war, he was reburied at Tyne Cot Cemetery, plot XVII, row A, grave 11.
Sources 3
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2nd Australia & New Zealand Army Corps [2ANZAC], Deputy Director of Medical Services (DDMS) - War Diary, 1 October - 31 October 1917 (New Zealand Archives, Wellington (ANZ), R23486855). https://www.archives.govt.nz/ Sources used |
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4th New Zealand Field Ambulance - War Diary, 1 June 1917 - 31 March 1918 (New Zealand Archives, Wellington (ANZ), R23817185). https://www.archives.govt.nz/ Sources used |
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BALLANTYNE, David Inglis - WW1 3/2882 - Army - New Zealand Defence Force Personnel Records (Archives New Zealand, Wellington (ANZ), R22275292). https://www.archives.govt.nz/ Sources used |
More information 4
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/461810 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=53fc019c-7089-4876-8d48-76617e083117 |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/7170582 |
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The NZEF Project (UNSW Canberra) https://nzef.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=11107 |