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Rifleman David Balloch
Description
TitleRifleman David BallochAlternative NameBallockSummaryA soldier in World War One. DescriptionDavid was born at Dunsandel on 12 March 1879, eldest son of John and Annie Balloch, of Dunsandel. Before enlisting he was working as a blacksmith for Booth MacDonald in Christchurch. He was 5ft 6¾in tall with a dark complexion, grey eyes and black hair. He was member of Ancient Order of Foresters - Court Star of Dunsandel and on their behalf, whilst on final leave, presented Mr Skinner with a watch from the old boys of Dunsandel School.
David enlisted on 27 June 1916 and was assigned to the New Zealand Rifle Brigade, 9th Reinforcements 3rd Battalion, G Company. After training he embarked for Europe on 12th February 1917 on board the Willochra. He was posted to 4th NZ Rifle Brigade, C Company on 21st April 1917. He was reported wounded on 5 May 1917 and admitted to No.53 Casualty Clearing Station the following day. This may have been the time he was gassed. He re-joined his unit on 27th May. Then he was wounded again on 8th June, during the fighting at Messines and taken to No.12 General Hospital on 10 June. He was admitted to No.1 NZ General Hospital at Brockenhurst with Shell Shock on 16th June 1917. He was transferred to the Convalescent Depot on 9 August. A report on 16 August gives more information about what happened. A shell landed near him during the battle and he was blown up, being buried in the debris for two hours. He was recovered unconscious and was in bed for 5 weeks.
He returned to his unit but again became ill with headaches, dizziness, tremor of hands, difficulty in speaking. He did note that he had had concussion of the brain 15 years ago after a knock on the head. Medically his left pupil was larger than the right, his speech hesitating, he sweated very badly all over, had tremor in his hands and head as well as suffering from giddiness and headache. He slept badly and his deep reflexes were exaggerated. The finding was that he was suffering from the effects of a shell explosion on active service. He was discharged as being not physically fit for war service on account of illness contracted on active service on 10 September. He was then sent to Torquay on 28 September to return to New Zealand via the Mokoia. He embarked for home on 1 November 1917 and on 5 December a form letter was sent to his mother about meeting a kinsman and offering a Railway pass and wharf passes for his family.
Meanwhile another Medical Board was held on board the Mokoia and noted that he was to attend as an outpatient at Christchurch whilst residing at Dunsandel. The final Medical Board was held 4 January 1918 and cited his injury as Traumatic Neuro-anesthesia caused by injury at Messines. It was considered permanent and they recommended that he be discharged and pensioned. A newspaper report after his death fills in the final details. “The flag at Booth, Macdonald and Co., was hoisted half-mast yesterday in respect to the memory of the late Rifleman David Ballock, who was gassed and wounded at Messines in 1917, and invalided home early in 1918. He had not sufficiently recovered to resume his usual avocation, although he made several attempts to do so, and was sent up to the Hanmer Sanatorium about four months ago, and returned home to Dunsandel about a month ago, very much improved as a result of the care received at Hanmer. He contracted influenza and pneumonia supervening, died on Thursday. (28 November 1918).”
David was buried at Brookside Cemetery on 30 November. David is remembered on the Irwell Plaque of the Ellesmere County War Memorial and the Dunsandel War Memorial.
First NameDavidLast NameBallochFamilySingleEldest son of John and Annie Balloch, of DunsandelDate of Birth12 March 1879Place of BirthDunsandelDate of Death28 November 1918Place of DeathDunsandel Cause of DeathInfluenzaAge at Death39
David enlisted on 27 June 1916 and was assigned to the New Zealand Rifle Brigade, 9th Reinforcements 3rd Battalion, G Company. After training he embarked for Europe on 12th February 1917 on board the Willochra. He was posted to 4th NZ Rifle Brigade, C Company on 21st April 1917. He was reported wounded on 5 May 1917 and admitted to No.53 Casualty Clearing Station the following day. This may have been the time he was gassed. He re-joined his unit on 27th May. Then he was wounded again on 8th June, during the fighting at Messines and taken to No.12 General Hospital on 10 June. He was admitted to No.1 NZ General Hospital at Brockenhurst with Shell Shock on 16th June 1917. He was transferred to the Convalescent Depot on 9 August. A report on 16 August gives more information about what happened. A shell landed near him during the battle and he was blown up, being buried in the debris for two hours. He was recovered unconscious and was in bed for 5 weeks.
He returned to his unit but again became ill with headaches, dizziness, tremor of hands, difficulty in speaking. He did note that he had had concussion of the brain 15 years ago after a knock on the head. Medically his left pupil was larger than the right, his speech hesitating, he sweated very badly all over, had tremor in his hands and head as well as suffering from giddiness and headache. He slept badly and his deep reflexes were exaggerated. The finding was that he was suffering from the effects of a shell explosion on active service. He was discharged as being not physically fit for war service on account of illness contracted on active service on 10 September. He was then sent to Torquay on 28 September to return to New Zealand via the Mokoia. He embarked for home on 1 November 1917 and on 5 December a form letter was sent to his mother about meeting a kinsman and offering a Railway pass and wharf passes for his family.
Meanwhile another Medical Board was held on board the Mokoia and noted that he was to attend as an outpatient at Christchurch whilst residing at Dunsandel. The final Medical Board was held 4 January 1918 and cited his injury as Traumatic Neuro-anesthesia caused by injury at Messines. It was considered permanent and they recommended that he be discharged and pensioned. A newspaper report after his death fills in the final details. “The flag at Booth, Macdonald and Co., was hoisted half-mast yesterday in respect to the memory of the late Rifleman David Ballock, who was gassed and wounded at Messines in 1917, and invalided home early in 1918. He had not sufficiently recovered to resume his usual avocation, although he made several attempts to do so, and was sent up to the Hanmer Sanatorium about four months ago, and returned home to Dunsandel about a month ago, very much improved as a result of the care received at Hanmer. He contracted influenza and pneumonia supervening, died on Thursday. (28 November 1918).”
David was buried at Brookside Cemetery on 30 November. David is remembered on the Irwell Plaque of the Ellesmere County War Memorial and the Dunsandel War Memorial.
First NameDavidLast NameBallochFamilySingleEldest son of John and Annie Balloch, of DunsandelDate of Birth12 March 1879Place of BirthDunsandelDate of Death28 November 1918Place of DeathDunsandel Cause of DeathInfluenzaAge at Death39
Connections
CollectionSoldiers of Selwyn World War OneImageDunsandel War MemorialLeeston and Ellesmere County War MemorialMore InformationAuckland War Memorial Cenotaph
Military Service
Memorial or CemeteryBrookside CemeteryDunsandel War MemorialEllesmere County War MemorialOccupation before EnlistingBlacksmithRegiment or ServiceNew Zealand Rifle BrigadeEnlistment Details27th June 1916Service Number28953Embarkation12th February 1917TransportWillochraCountryNew Zealand
Attribution
Researched ByL. M. Seaton
Rifleman David Balloch. Selwyn Stories, accessed 16/12/2025, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/236
