Tristan George Lance Ballance (21 April 1916 – 4 December 1943) was an
English
English usually refers to:
* English language
* English people
English may also refer to:
Peoples, culture, and language
* ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England
** English national ide ...
first-class
cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of eleven players on a field at the centre of which is a pitch with a wicket at each end, each comprising two bails balanced on three stumps. The batting side scores runs by str ...
er and
British Army
The British Army is the principal land warfare force of the United Kingdom, a part of the British Armed Forces along with the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. , the British Army comprises 79,380 regular full-time personnel, 4,090 Gurk ...
officer. Ballance attended the
University of Oxford
, mottoeng = The Lord is my light
, established =
, endowment = £6.1 billion (including colleges) (2019)
, budget = £2.145 billion (2019–20)
, chancellor ...
, where he played
first-class cricket
First-class cricket, along with List A cricket and Twenty20 cricket, is one of the highest-standard forms of cricket. A first-class match is one of three or more days' scheduled duration between two sides of eleven players each and is officia ...
for
Oxford University Cricket Club
Oxford University Cricket Club (OUCC), which represents the University of Oxford, has always held first-class status since 1827 when it made its debut in the inaugural University Match between OUCC and Cambridge University Cricket Club (CUCC). ...
from 1935–37. After graduating he became a schoolteacher, before serving in the
Second World War
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposi ...
with the
Durham Light Infantry
The Durham Light Infantry (DLI) was a light infantry regiment of the British Army in existence from 1881 to 1968. It was formed in 1881 under the Childers Reforms by the amalgamation of the 68th (Durham) Regiment of Foot (Light Infantry) and t ...
. He died of wounds sustained in action in December 1943, three months after being decorated with the
Military Cross
The Military Cross (MC) is the third-level (second-level pre-1993) military decoration awarded to officers and (since 1993) other ranks of the British Armed Forces, and formerly awarded to officers of other Commonwealth countries.
The MC ...
.
Early life and first-class cricket
Son to
Sir Hamilton Ashley Ballance and his wife, Ruth Ballance (née Barrett), he was born at
Norwich
Norwich () is a cathedral city and district of Norfolk, England, of which it is the county town. Norwich is by the River Wensum, about north-east of London, north of Ipswich and east of Peterborough. As the seat of the See of Norwich, with ...
in April 1916.
He was educated at
Uppingham School
Uppingham School is a public school (English independent day and boarding school for pupils 13-18) in Uppingham, Rutland, England, founded in 1584 by Robert Johnson, the Archdeacon of Leicester, who also established Oakham School. The headma ...
, before going up to
Brasenose College, Oxford.
While studying at Oxford, he made his debut in
first-class cricket
First-class cricket, along with List A cricket and Twenty20 cricket, is one of the highest-standard forms of cricket. A first-class match is one of three or more days' scheduled duration between two sides of eleven players each and is officia ...
for
Oxford University
Oxford () is a city in England. It is the county town and only city of Oxfordshire. In 2020, its population was estimated at 151,584. It is north-west of London, south-east of Birmingham and north-east of Bristol. The city is home to th ...
against
Worcestershire
Worcestershire ( , ; written abbreviation: Worcs) is a county in the West Midlands of England. The area that is now Worcestershire was absorbed into the unified Kingdom of England in 927, at which time it was constituted as a county (see H ...
at
Oxford
Oxford () is a city in England. It is the county town and only city of Oxfordshire. In 2020, its population was estimated at 151,584. It is north-west of London, south-east of Birmingham and north-east of Bristol. The city is home to the ...
in 1935.
He made nine appearances for Oxford in 1935, taking 27 wickets at an
average
In ordinary language, an average is a single number taken as representative of a list of numbers, usually the sum of the numbers divided by how many numbers are in the list (the arithmetic mean). For example, the average of the numbers 2, 3, 4, 7 ...
of 35.96, with best figures of 5 for 30.
He gained his
blue
Blue is one of the three primary colours in the RYB colour model (traditional colour theory), as well as in the RGB (additive) colour model. It lies between violet and cyan on the spectrum of visible light. The eye perceives blue when ...
in his debut season. A generally
expensive bowler, Ballance lost his place in the Oxford side during the 1936 season, making just three appearances.
He regained his place in the Oxford side for the 1937 season, making ten appearances and taking 28 wickets at an average of 27.12, with best figures of 5 for 42.
Ballance made a total of 23 first-class appearances for Oxford, taking 61 wickets with his
slow left-arm orthodox
Left-arm orthodox spin, Left-arm off spin also known as slow left-arm orthodox spin bowling, is a type of left-arm finger spin bowling in the sport of cricket.
Left-arm orthodox spin is bowled by a left-arm bowler using the fingers to spin ...
bowling, at an average of 30.73. A
tailend batsman, Ballance scored 190 runs and had one innings of note, making 63 against
Leicestershire in 1936.
In addition to playing first-class cricket, Ballance also played
minor counties cricket for
Norfolk
Norfolk () is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in East Anglia in England. It borders Lincolnshire to the north-west, Cambridgeshire to the west and south-west, and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the No ...
from 1932–39, making fifty appearances in the
Minor Counties Championship. After graduating from Oxford, he became a schoolteacher at
Brighton College
Brighton College is an independent, co-educational boarding and day school for boys and girls aged 3 to 18 in Brighton, England. The school has three sites: Brighton College (the senior school, ages 11 to 18); Brighton College Preparatory Sc ...
. While teaching at the college he was commissioned as a
second lieutenant in the college contingent of the
Officers' Training Corps
The Officers' Training Corps (OTC), more fully called the University Officers' Training Corps (UOTC), are military leadership training units operated by the British Army. Their focus is to develop the leadership abilities of their members whilst ...
.
Second world war service
Ballance served in the
Second World War
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposi ...
with the 16th Battalion,
Durham Light Infantry
The Durham Light Infantry (DLI) was a light infantry regiment of the British Army in existence from 1881 to 1968. It was formed in 1881 under the Childers Reforms by the amalgamation of the 68th (Durham) Regiment of Foot (Light Infantry) and t ...
(DLI), being commissioned in May 1940. His
service number
A service number is an identification code used to identify a person within a large group. Service numbers are most often associated with the military; however, they may be used in civilian organizations as well. National identification numbers may ...
was 73434. He was awarded the
Military Cross
The Military Cross (MC) is the third-level (second-level pre-1993) military decoration awarded to officers and (since 1993) other ranks of the British Armed Forces, and formerly awarded to officers of other Commonwealth countries.
The MC ...
(MC) for gallant and distinguished service with 16 DLI during the
Battle of Sedjenane
Sedjenane is a town in northern Tunisia, on the railway line to Mateur and the port of Bizerta. The Battle of Sedjenane was fought during World War II between the Allies of World War II, Allies and Axis powers, Axis for control of a town in north ...
, in early March 1943, at which point he held the temporary rank of
captain.
His was the 16th Battalion Durham Light Infantry's first Military Cross of the war.
He took part in the
Italian Campaign, landing at Salerno with 16 DLI in September 1943. He died of wounds sustained in actions against the
Winter Line
The Winter Line was a series of German and Italian military fortifications in Italy, constructed during World War II by Organisation Todt and commanded by Albert Kesselring. The series of three lines was designed to defend a western section ...
near
Monte Cassino
Monte Cassino (today usually spelled Montecassino) is a rocky hill about southeast of Rome, in the Latin Valley, Italy, west of Cassino and at an elevation of . Site of the Roman town of Casinum, it is widely known for its abbey, the first ho ...
on 4 December 1943.
He was buried at the
Minturno War Cemetery.
His elder brother, Ivor, had been killed the previous year while serving with the
Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve aboard .
References
External links
*
* 16 DLI Officers in 1942, featuring T G L Ballance ((http://16dli.awardspace.co.uk/page61.html))
* A transcription of Major Ballance's Military Cross citation ((http://16dli.awardspace.co.uk/page39.html ))
* Portrait sketch on the Brighton College WW2 Roll of Honour (https://www.brightoncollegeremembers.com/roll-of-honour/tristan-ballance?rq=Ballance)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ballance, Tristan
1916 births
1943 deaths
Military personnel from Norwich
Burials in Lazio
Alumni of Brasenose College, Oxford
British Army personnel killed in World War II
Cricketers from Norwich
Durham Light Infantry officers
English cricketers
Norfolk cricketers
Officers' Training Corps officers
Oxford University cricketers
People educated at Uppingham School
Recipients of the Military Cross
Schoolteachers from Sussex