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Auction: 22103 - Orders, Decorations and Medals VII - e-Auction
Lot: 199

The British War Medal awarded to Lieutenant A. O. Balaam, the 19th victim of Leutnant Julius Buckler, an ace of Jasta 17

British War Medal 1914-20 (Lieut. A. O. Balaam.), good very fine

Augustus Orlando Balaam known as 'Gus' to his friends, was born in London on 20 September 1892, the son of William and Susan Balaam. Educated at Essex County School he joined the Territorial Force at Ilford on 19 November 1914. Posted, as a Driver, 2/1st Headquarters Company, East Anglian Divisional Train, Army Service Corps Gus was transferred to the East Anglian Divisional Royal Engineers on 1 July 1915. Granted a Commission to 2nd Lieutenant on 17 November 1915 with the 2/5th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment.

Applying to join the Royal Flying Corps, Gus was approved and posted to the Central Flying School on 12 May 1917. Joining the 16 Squadron on 5 August 1917 he began to fly artillery observation missions with them in RE8s. Promoted Lieutenant on 1 June 1917 while flying with this squadron. Gus was still flying with this unit when he flew a patrol on 24 October 1917 to Mericourt. Spotted in combat with an enemy aircraft at 15:27 his plane was seen to spin out of control and nose dive into the ground with both Gus and his observer 2nd Lieutenant Donald Price-Smith perishing in the flames.

The kill is claimed by Leutnant Julius Buckler, Jasta 17, a high scoring ace who ended his career with 36 victories. It was poor luck to encounter Buckler that month as he proved the top scoring ace for October 1917 with a total of nine kills. Balaam and Price-Smith were buried side by side at in Aubigny Communal Cemetery Extension; sold together with copied research including census data, service records and casualty reports as well as transcribed extracts from The Sky was their Battlefield and Above the Lines as well as M.I.C. entry and details on Luetnant Buckler.


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Sold for
£290

Starting price
£40