Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Private F. A. Balch, 17th Armoured Car Company, Tank Corps, late Royal Flying Corps, who was killed in action at Drocourt-Queant on 2 September 1918

British War and Victory Medals (309088 Pte., Tank Corps), with related Memorial Plaque (Frederick Arthur Balch) and Tank Corps cap badge, all contained in a contemporary glazed oak frame; together with a small silver cup with engraved inscription, ‘S.H.S. [for Swindon High School] / 1908 / F. A. Balch / Mrs. Snell’s Prize / 80 Yards’, extremely fine (5) £250-300

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of Medals to Great War Casualties formed by Tim Parsons.

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Frederick Arthur Balch, who was born at Swindon, Wiltshire and was educated at Swindon High School, originally enlisted in the Royal Flying Corps.

Transferring to the Tank Corps, he was posted to the 17th Armoured Car Company, a unit that was used to reinforce V Tank Brigade in 1918. And that August he went into action in the Battle of Amiens, his unit’s armoured cars fighting with great success:

‘ ... They were able to break into the rear area of the enemy position beyond the main line of guns, in which transport and stragglers were on the move, and enjoyed a glorious hour, but only the main items of their adventures maybe given here. The twelve cars, after being delayed by running into British shelling directed on the retiring enemy near the Roman Road, reached the main Morecourt valley ahead of the infantry, and obtained splendid targets on the German troops massing in it, causing confused movements amongst them which called to mind the disturbance of an ant heap. Pushing eastwards the cars fired on the large dumps on the Roman Road near La Flaque, and captured and disabled a train. Two miles farther on some of them fired up and down the valley running from Herleville past Chuignes, which crosses the Roman Road there, scattering troops and transport. The road becoming blocked by press of vehicles trying to escape, the cars divided, half going southwards to Framerville and half northwards towards Proyart. At the former place some of a corps staff were surprised at a meal, and four officers captured (they were subsequently killed by a burst of machine-gun fire), and the village cleared. The northern party of cars went to Chuignolles, hastening the flight of many German detachments, and, throwing into confusion long columns of German transport moving without any precautions, returned to the Roman Road. The southern party also returned to the Roman Road, and then both parties patrolled the area east of the 5th Australian Division’s objective for some hours. By the end of the day nine of the twelve cars were out of action, but they required only slight repairs, not having encountered artillery until the very last part of the advance, when a field gun damaged one wheel of two cars ...’

Further battle experience ensued at Albert, but it was at Drocourt-Queant on 2 September 1918, when the 17th Armoured Car Company was given the unenviable task of ‘pushing rapidly forward’ to seize crossings over the Canal du Nord, that Balch was killed in action.

The following obituary notice appeared in a local newspaper, The Evening Advertiser, on 17 September 1918:

‘Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Balch of Thurlow, Bath Road, Swindon, have just received the sad news that their son, Fred, has laid down his life for his country. The young soldier was within a couple of months of his twentieth birthday, and has been in the army nearly two years. He went to France at the time of the big German offensive in March, and the last time he paid a visit to his home was at Christmas. He was originally attached to the Flying Arm of the Service, but has latterly been doing duty with the Tank Corps.

A tribute was paid to the young hero by Sergeant Herbert Collett in a letter to his bereaved parents. He writes: “I deeply regret to inform you that your son, Fred, was killed in action on 2 September. His death was instantaneous. Fred was exceedingly brave while fighting, and maintained his cheery smile till the last. I must add his death was clearly honourable. We miss him very much after having such a worker and a real friend. The whole section and myself send the deepest sympathy, and I am willing to perform any duty you ask of me.” ’

Balch is commemorated on the Vis-en-Artois Memorial; photographs of the relevant panel are included.