Topic: BatzG - Anzac
6th Bn, AIF
6th Infantry Battalion, AIF
Roll of Honour
Joseph Rupert Balfe
Poppies on the Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial, Canberra
Joseph Rupert Balfe
Joseph Rupert Balfe
| Date of birth | 9 March 1890 |
| Place of birth | Brunswick, Victoria |
| School | University High School, Melbourne, Victoria |
| Other training | Matriculated, 1906; Senior Public, 1907; University of Melbourne, Victoria (Medicine, 5th yr) |
| Occupation | Medical student |
| Address | 6 Barkley Street, Brunswick, Victoria |
| Marital status | Single |
| Age at embarkation | 24 |
| Next of kin | Father, Mr Balfe, 6 Barkley Street, Brunswick, Victoria |
| Previous military service | Served 4 years in University Rifles (Citizen Military Forces), Melbourne, Victoria. Attended Kilmore Camp, 1911, as Private; 1912, as Lance Corporal; Heidelberg Camp, 1913, as Sergeant; Bundoora Camp, 1914, as 2nd Lieutenant. |
| Enlistment date | 2 September 1914 |
| Rank on enlistment | 2nd Lieutenant |
| Unit name | 6th Battalion, A Company |
| AWM Embarkation Roll number | 23/23/1 |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A20 Hororata on 19 October 1914 |
| Rank from Nominal Roll | Lieutenant |
| Unit from Nominal Roll | 6th Battalion |
| Promotions | Lieutenant |
| Other details from Roll of Honour Circular | Sergeant Collins reported: 'At Gaba Tepe 25/4/1915. Landing in the morning about 5.20 a.m., just reached beach and a bursting shell killed Balfe instantly. He was in command of B Coy. Came from Australia with informant on transport "Hororata" on 19th [October] 1914. Buried at Hillcrest - Shrapnel Gully - Gaba Tepe. Temporary cross erected. Dark complexion, about 25 years of age, thick set. From Victoria.' Base Records forwarded these details to Mr Balfe, 2 February 1921. |
| Fate | Killed in Action 25 April 1915 |
| Place of death or wounding | Anzac Cove, Gallipoli, Turkey |
| Date of death | 25 April 1915 |
| Age at death from cemetery records | 25 |
| Place of burial | No known grave |
| Commemoration details | The Lone Pine Memorial (Panel 25), Gallipoli, Turkey The Lone Pine Memorial, situated in the Lone Pine Cemetery at Anzac, is the main Australian Memorial on Gallipoli, and one of four memorials to men of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. Designed by Sir John Burnet, the principal architect of the Gallipoli cemeteries, it is a thick tapering pylon 14.3 metres high on a square base 12.98 metres wide. It is constructed from limestone mined at Ilgardere in Turkey. The Memorial commemorates the 3268 Australians and 456 New Zealanders who have no known grave and the 960 Australians and 252 New Zealanders who were buried at sea after evacuation through wounds or disease. The names of New Zealanders commemorated are inscribed on stone panels mounted on the south and north sides of the pylon, while those of the Australians are listed on a long wall of panels in front of the pylon and to either side. Names are arranged by unit and rank. The Memorial stands over the centre of the Turkish trenches and tunnels which were the scene of heavy fighting during the August offensive. Most cemeteries on Gallipoli contain relatively few marked graves, and the majority of Australians killed on Gallipoli are commemorated here. |
| Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial | 45 |
| Miscellaneous information from cemetery records | Parents: Matthew and Sarah Balfe, 60 Sydney Road, Brunswick, Victoria, Australia |
| Other details | Born in Brunswick, Balfe attended Princes Hill State School before earning a scholarship to attend University High School. Rupert decided after High School that he would study medicine. He attended Melbourne University for his degree and accomplished it. During his years at the University he played for the VFL Football Club. He played Australian rules football for VFA Club Brunswick whilst enjoying athletics at University High. He played in a Grand Final with Brunswick against Footscray, along with his two brothers, Harold and Stan. Balfe, a wingman, broke his arm during the match and that turned the game, with Footscray winning by 24 points. When at Melbourne University, he became a classy footballer with the VFL/AFL side University, but due to studies he was limited. He played on 1 game in season 1909-1910, making his debut in 1909, but in 1911 he came back, and allowed for 6 more games, before ending a football career for athletics. He had always been a great athlete, especially in field athletics. He was a High School champion athletics, winning the 100,200 and 400 yards handicaps, long jump, high jump and 120 yards hurdles. In 1913 he was runner-up in the Victorian long jump. Debut - 15 May 1909, University vs. St Kilda, at Junction Oval Team - University (1909,1911) 7 Games, 2 Goals War service: Egypt, Gallipoli Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal |
| War Grave Register notes | BALFE, Lt. Joseph Rupert. 6th Bn. Killed in action 25th April, 1915. Age 25. Son of Matthew and Sarah Balfe, of 60, Sydney Rd., Brunswick, Victoria, Australia. 25. |
| Source | AWM145 Roll of Honour cards, 1914-1918 War, Army All information sourced from the Australian War Memorial, ADFA Project, National Australian Archives and the Australian Light Horse Studies Centre. |
Lest We Forget
Further Reading:
The Battle of Anzac Cove, Gallipoli, 25 April 1915
The Battle of Anzac Cove, Gallipoli, 25 April 1915, 6th Infantry Battalion, Roll of Honour
The Battle of Anzac Cove, Gallipoli, 25 April 1915, 2nd Infantry Brigade, Roll of Honour
The Battle of Anzac Cove, Gallipoli, 25 April 1915, AIF, Roll of Honour
Battles where Australians fought, 1899-1920
Citation: 6th Bn, AIF, Roll of Honour, Joseph Rupert Balfe
