Joseph Rupert Balfe (9 March 1890 – 25 April 1915) was an

Australian rules football Australian football, also called Australian rules football or Aussie rules, or more simply football or footy, is a contact sport played between two teams of 18 players on an oval field, often a modified cricket ground. Points are scored by k ...

er and soldier who was killed during the

landing at Anzac Cove The landing at Anzac Cove on Sunday, 25 April 1915, also known as the landing at Gaba Tepe and, to the Turks, as the Arıburnu Battle, was part of the amphibious invasion of the Gallipoli Peninsula by the forces of the British Empire, which ...

.Despite various suggestions given over time, related to particular individuals, it is clear that because at least six former VFL footballers were killed during the chaos of the landing at Anzac Cove—Rupert Balfe (University),

Alan Cordner Joseph Alan Cordner (6 May 1890 – 25 April 1915) was an Australian rules footballer who played for the Geelong Football Club and Collingwood Football Club in the Victorian Football League (VFL). He was killed at Cape Helles in Ottoman Turk ...

(Geelong and Collingwood),

Claude Crowl Claude Terrell Crowl (26 December 1892 – 25 April 1915) was an Australian rules footballer who played with St Kilda in the Victorian Football League. He was a member of the First AIF, and was killed in action during the landing at Anza ...

(St Kilda),

Charlie Fincher Charles Fincher (23 January 1892 – 25 April 1915) was an Australian rules footballer who played with South Melbourne in the Victorian Football League (VFL), and with Essendon Town Football Club in the Victorian Football Association (VFA). ...

(South Melbourne),

Fen McDonald Fenley John "Fen" McDonald (25 May 1891 – 25 April 1915) was an Australian rules footballer who played with Carlton and Melbourne in the Victorian Football League (VFL). He was a member of the First AIF, and was killed in action during the ...

(Carlton and Melbourne), and Joe Pearce (Melbourne)—it can never be definitively argued that one of these men was "the first VFL footballer killed in the First World War".

Early life and education

The son of Matthew Balfe (later mayor of Brunswick) and Sarah Knott, Rupert Balfe was born in Brunswick in 1890. Balfe attended Princes Hill State School before earning a

scholarship A scholarship is a form of financial aid awarded to students for further education. Generally, scholarships are awarded based on a set of criteria such as academic merit, diversity and inclusion, athletic skill, and financial need. Scholarsh ...

to attend Thomas Palmer's University High School, in Grattan Street, Carlton. After completing his secondary education in 1908, he studied medicine at the

University of Melbourne The University of Melbourne is a public research university located in Melbourne, Australia. Founded in 1853, it is Australia's second oldest university and the oldest in Victoria. Its main campus is located in Parkville, an inner suburb nor ...

and was in his final year when he enlisted to serve in World War I.

The true athlete

Balfe played football for Brunswick whilst starring in athletics at University High. He played in the 1908 VFA Grand Final for Brunswick against Footscray, along with his two brothers, Harold (whose arm was broken) and Stan. When at Melbourne University, he played for the VFL side

University A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, t ...

, but due to his studies he played a limited number of games. He played one game in the 1909 season and 6 more games during the 1911 season. Balfe was a notable athlete, especially in field athletics. He was a state High School champion in athletics, winning the 100, 200 and 440 yards,

long jump The long jump is a track and field event in which athletes combine speed, strength and agility in an attempt to leap as far as possible from a takeoff point. Along with the triple jump, the two events that measure jumping for distance as a gr ...

high jump The high jump is a track and field event in which competitors must jump unaided over a horizontal bar placed at measured heights without dislodging it. In its modern, most-practiced format, a bar is placed between two standards with a crash mat f ...

and 120 yards

hurdles Hurdling is the act of jumping over an obstacle at a high speed or in a sprint. In the early 19th century, hurdlers ran at and jumped over each hurdle (sometimes known as 'burgles'), landing on both feet and checking their forward motion. Today, ...

. In 1913 he was runner-up in the long jump at the Victorian athletic championships.

World War I

Balfe enlisted on 2 September 1914 as a Second Lieutenant with the 6th Battalion in the

First Australian Imperial Force The First Australian Imperial Force (1st AIF) was the main expeditionary force of the Australian Army during the First World War. It was formed as the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) following Britain's declaration of war on Germany on 15 Aug ...

(AIF). He was killed by a bursting shell whilst

landing Landing is the last part of a flight, where a flying animal, aircraft, or spacecraft returns to the ground. When the flying object returns to water, the process is called alighting, although it is commonly called "landing", "touchdown" or ...

Gallipoli The Gallipoli peninsula (; tr, Gelibolu Yarımadası; grc, Χερσόνησος της Καλλίπολης, ) is located in the southern part of East Thrace, the European part of Turkey, with the Aegean Sea to the west and the Dardanelles ...

Ottoman Turkey The Ottoman Empire, * ; is an archaic version. The definite article forms and were synonymous * and el, Оθωμανική Αυτοκρατορία, Othōmanikē Avtokratoria, label=none * info page on book at Martin Luther University) ...

, at the age of 25. He was one of many players from the VFL during World War I who lost their lives.

Friendship with Menzies

Balfe had a strong friendship with

Robert Menzies The name Robert is an ancient Germanic given name, from Proto-Germanic "fame" and "bright" (''Hrōþiberhtaz''). Compare Old Dutch ''Robrecht'' and Old High German ''Hrodebert'' (a compound of ''Hrōþ, Hruod'' ( non, Hróðr) "fame, glory ...

, who was studying law at Melbourne University. Menzies went on to become the

Prime Minister of Australia The prime minister of Australia is the head of government of the Commonwealth of Australia. The prime minister heads the executive branch of the Australian Government, federal government of Australia and is also accountable to Parliament of A ...

from 1939 to 1941, 1949–1966. Menzies wrote a poem for the late Balfe which appeared in several local newspapers on 16 July 1915.

In Memoriam Lieut. J. R. Balfe, Killed in Action, Gallipoli, July 1915 His was the call that came from far away – An Empire's message flashing o'er the sea – The call to arms! The blood of chivalry Pulsed quicker in his veins; he could not stay! Let others wait; for him the glorious day Of tyrants humbled and a world set free Had dawned in clouds and thunder; with a glee Born not of insensate madness for the fray, But rather of a spirit noble, brave, And kindled by a heart that wept at wrong, He went. The storms of battle round him rave And screaming fury o'er him chants its song, Sleep, gallant soul! Though gone thy living breath, Thou liv'st for aye, for thou has conquered death!"

Notes

References

External links

* *Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour
Joseph Rupert Balfe
{{DEFAULTSORT:Balfe, J.Rupert Military personnel from Melbourne University Football Club players Brunswick Football Club players Australian Army officers Australian military personnel killed in World War I People educated at University High School, Melbourne Australian rules footballers from Melbourne 1890 births 1915 deaths People from Brunswick, Victoria