| Regimental number | 39934 |
| Date of birth | |
| Place of birth | Hawke's Bay |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Occupation | Farmer |
| Marital status | Single |
| Age at embarkation | 30 |
| Height | 5' 9" |
| Weight | 161 lbs |
| Next of kin | Father, J Balsillie, Kairanga, Palmerston North |
| Enlistment date | |
| Rank on embarkation | Corporal |
| Unit name | New Zealand Expeditionary Force, 23rd Reinforcements, F Company (Unattached) |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Wellington on board HMNZT Corinthic on |
| Final rank | Lance Corporal |
| Final unit | 2nd Battalion, Otago Infantry Regiment |
| Fate | Killed in Action |
| Age at death from cemetery records | 31 |
| Place of burial | No known grave |
| Commemoration details | Tyne Cot Memorial (New Zealand Apse, Panel 3), Zonnebeke, Belgium |
| Miscellaneous information from cemetery records | Parents: John and Annie Balsillie (both b. Scotland), 10 Massey Street, Palmerston North |
| Other details |
War service: Western Front Embarked Wellington, 2 April 1917; disembarked Devonport, England, 10 June 1917, and marched into Sling Camp, and reverted to Temporary Lance Corporal. Appointed Lance Corporal, 11 June 1917. Proceeded overseas to France, 6 July 1917; joined 2nd Bn, Otago Infantry Regiment, in the field, 9 August 1917, and posted to 10th Company. Reported missing, 12 October 1917. Court of Enquiry, 19 November 1917, concluded: 'Missing believed killed, 12 October 1917.' Statement, 29559 Pte R.E. OATS, 2nd Bn, Otago Infantry Regiment: 'I saw 39934 L.Cpl. Balsillie at the assembly point before the attack on Belle Vue Spur, 12th Oct. 1917. I did not see him again & he did not come out with the coy. The coy. suffered very heavy casualties - owing to heavy machine gun & shell fire.' |
| Sources | Nominal Roll Vol. 3: Roll 57, p. 19 Archives New Zealand (Wellington), Agency AABK, Series 18805, File 22275361 |