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Corporal Robert Ballagh
Description
TitleCorporal Robert BallaghSummaryA soldier in World War One. DescriptionRobert was born at Hororata on 3 May 1884, son of Henry and Elizabeth Ballagh. Before enlisting he was working as a farmer at Hororata. He was 5ft 11in tall with a dark complexion, grey eyes and dark brown hair. He also had a scar on his right shinbone. When he had the medical examination the notation was that although his teeth were bad, he had dental work before leaving.
Robert enlisted on 21 May 1915 and was assigned to the Trentham Regiment. He embarked on 9 October 1915 from Wellington bound for Suez. He disembarked in Egypt, 18 November 1915. He was sent to Ismalia on 7 January 1916 and after time there he embarked for France on 6 April 1916. He was admitted to hospital after being wounded in the thigh on 25 May and sent to the 7th General Hospital. He was sent to England on board the Aberdonian on 13 June and admitted to the 2nd General Hospital at Chelsea on 17th. He moved to the hospital at Walton on Thames on 4 July and then to Hornchurch to convalesce on 15 July. A month later on 15 August he was considered fit for service and attached to the depot at Hornchurch. From there he was sent to Sling camp and back to France and attached to base depot at Etaples on 27 September. He re-joined his unit in the field and was posted to C Company. He was promoted to Lance Corporal on 13 December 1916, then Corporal. On 6 May 1917 he was promoted to temporary Sergeant then on 8 June 1917 he changed rank a number of times, finally settling as Corporal, as the non-commissioned officers around him were killed or wounded. This accounts for the differing rank given by others during the inquiry into his whereabouts.
Robert was declared as missing in action at Messines on 18 June 1917, aged 33. It was later determined that he had been killed in action but such was the confusion after the sortie that he was at first thought to have been taken as prisoner but later investigations established the details around his death. It was reported that a few days after the Messines attack that he and Sergeant Haworth went out along the canal to find where the Germans were. They went some way and seeing nothing, they decided to return and that is when the Germans appeared between them and our lines. Sergeant Howath looked back and saw Corporal Ballagh behind, when he looked round again he was no longer there. Another soldier reported that Corporal Ballagh was missing after going out about 3 o’clock in the afternoon to locate the Germans. 'I was also of the party and we found the Germans in the Sugar Refinery. The Germans fired and Howarth and Ballagh ran in different directions round the building, tried to go back but Germans were firing. Later some scouts had seen the body of a sergeant in a shell hole but not recognised him.' Finally as Robert had been missing for 6 months and was not located as a prisoner of war he was now declared to have been killed in action on 18 June. His name is inscribed on the Messines Ridge Memorial to the Missing, Messines. In New Zealand Robert is remembered on the Hororata War Memorial.First NameRobertLast NameBallaghFamilySingleSon of Henry and Elizabeth BallaghDate of Birth3 May 1884Place of BirthHororataDate of Death18 June 1917Place of DeathBelgiumCause of DeathKilled in action Age at Death33
Robert enlisted on 21 May 1915 and was assigned to the Trentham Regiment. He embarked on 9 October 1915 from Wellington bound for Suez. He disembarked in Egypt, 18 November 1915. He was sent to Ismalia on 7 January 1916 and after time there he embarked for France on 6 April 1916. He was admitted to hospital after being wounded in the thigh on 25 May and sent to the 7th General Hospital. He was sent to England on board the Aberdonian on 13 June and admitted to the 2nd General Hospital at Chelsea on 17th. He moved to the hospital at Walton on Thames on 4 July and then to Hornchurch to convalesce on 15 July. A month later on 15 August he was considered fit for service and attached to the depot at Hornchurch. From there he was sent to Sling camp and back to France and attached to base depot at Etaples on 27 September. He re-joined his unit in the field and was posted to C Company. He was promoted to Lance Corporal on 13 December 1916, then Corporal. On 6 May 1917 he was promoted to temporary Sergeant then on 8 June 1917 he changed rank a number of times, finally settling as Corporal, as the non-commissioned officers around him were killed or wounded. This accounts for the differing rank given by others during the inquiry into his whereabouts.
Robert was declared as missing in action at Messines on 18 June 1917, aged 33. It was later determined that he had been killed in action but such was the confusion after the sortie that he was at first thought to have been taken as prisoner but later investigations established the details around his death. It was reported that a few days after the Messines attack that he and Sergeant Haworth went out along the canal to find where the Germans were. They went some way and seeing nothing, they decided to return and that is when the Germans appeared between them and our lines. Sergeant Howath looked back and saw Corporal Ballagh behind, when he looked round again he was no longer there. Another soldier reported that Corporal Ballagh was missing after going out about 3 o’clock in the afternoon to locate the Germans. 'I was also of the party and we found the Germans in the Sugar Refinery. The Germans fired and Howarth and Ballagh ran in different directions round the building, tried to go back but Germans were firing. Later some scouts had seen the body of a sergeant in a shell hole but not recognised him.' Finally as Robert had been missing for 6 months and was not located as a prisoner of war he was now declared to have been killed in action on 18 June. His name is inscribed on the Messines Ridge Memorial to the Missing, Messines. In New Zealand Robert is remembered on the Hororata War Memorial.First NameRobertLast NameBallaghFamilySingleSon of Henry and Elizabeth BallaghDate of Birth3 May 1884Place of BirthHororataDate of Death18 June 1917Place of DeathBelgiumCause of DeathKilled in action Age at Death33
Connections
CollectionSoldiers of Selwyn World War OneImageHororata War MemorialMore InformationAuckland War Memorial Cenotaph
Military Service
Memorial or CemeteryHororata War MemorialMessines Ridge Memorial to the MissingOccupation before EnlistingFarmer Regiment or ServiceNew Zealand Rifle BrigadeEnlistment Details21st May 1915Service Number24/679Embarkation9th October 1915Place of EmbarkationWellington CountryNew Zealand
Attribution
Researched ByL. M. Seaton
Corporal Robert Ballagh. Selwyn Stories, accessed 09/02/2026, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/566
