Walter Balchin

Walter Balchin was born in 1890 in Nottingham and was the son of George a frame worker knitter and Lizzie Balchin née Hunt 137 Bulwell Lane, Old Basford, Nottingham. His father George was born in 1860 in Nottingham and his mother Elizabeth Hunt was born in 1862 also in Nottingham, they were married in 1881 , their marriage was recorded in the Basford Registration District, they went on to have 16 children , however sadly three were to die in infancy or early childhood, their surviving children were all born in Nottingham and listed on the 1901 and 1911 census they are :- George William b1882, Amos b1884, Martha b1885, Alfred b1887, Walter b1890, Herbert b1891, Nellie b1892, Arthur b1894, Ernest b1897, Ada b1898, Ethel b1901, Liza b1903 and Florence b1903. In the 1911 census the family are living at 137 Bulwell Lane, Old Basford, Nottingham and are shown as George 51 yrs a frame work knitter, they are living with their children , Alfred 24 yrs a miner hewer, Herbert 20 yrs a miner hewer, Nellie 19 yrs a cardboard box maker, Arthur 17 yrs a pony driver underground, Ernest 14 yrs a pony driver underground, Ada 13 yrs scholar, Ethel 10 yrs a scholar, Liza 8 yrs a scholar and Florence 6 yrs. In the 1911 census Walter has already joined the army and he is listed in barracks at Normanton, Derbyshire with the 2nd battalion Notts and Derbys Regiment , he is a Private 22 yrs of age and single.

He was a professional soldier

Pte. Walter Balchin, enlisted in Nottingham and served with the 2nd Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire) Regiment. He landed in France with his battalion on 8th September 1914 he was killed by shellfire on 25th September 1914 on the Aisne he has no known grave, his name is commemorated on La Ferte-Sous-Jouarre Memorial.

In memoriam published 25th September 1915 in the Nottingham Evening Post :- “BALCHIN. – In loving memory of Pte. Walter Balchin, who was killed in action, September 25th, 1914, the beloved son of Lizzie and George Balchin. He sleeps not in his native land, but 'neath a foreign sky, and far from those who loved him best, but in a hero's grave he lies. – Mother, father, brothers, sisters. “BALCHIN. – In loving memory of Pte. Walter Balchin, who was killed in action, September 25th, 1914. Though death divides fond memories cling. – Eliza.” Above are courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918