Also Served: Herbert Balmer - Herbert BALMER
11 Houghton Street, Prescot Private 2535, 5th Bn., South Lancashire Regiment Herbert Balmer was born on 21st November 1889 in Prescot. In the 1911 census, the Balmer family are recorded as living at 14, Houghton Street, Prescot. Joseph Balmer, a 57 year old Coal Miner, and his wife Martha (46) had been married for 26 years, with 9 of their 12 children surviving, and 7 of them living with their parents.
Herbert was the brother of Joseph Balmer
Herbert (24) was single and worked as a Coal Miner, Joseph (15) was a Mineral Water Bottler, Emily (11) and Lily (10 were at school and the remainder of the family was Edith (7), Mary (5) and Maud (2).
He married Lydia Meredith in Prescot in the Autumn of 1913.
Herbert Balmer attested to the South Lancashire Regiment on 21st September 1914. His address was 11 Houghton Street, Prescot. The forms recorded that he was born on 21st November 1889. His next of kin is noted as Elizabeth Balmer, his wife, at the same address. He was 24years and 10 months old, stood 5ft 3in tall and had a chest measuring 36 inches, expandable by a further inch. His vision and physical development were noted as 'Good' and he was declared fit for military service.
He underwent training and eventually embarked for France on 4th May 1916, arriving there the following day. He remained in France until 15th December 1918.
Pte. Balmer's medical record notes a Gun Shot Wound to his right thigh on 21st September 1917. This would have almost certainly been incurred at the 3rd Battle of Ypres, better known as Passchendaele.
Herbert was listed in the "Wounded" column of the Liverpool Daily Post, 13th October 1917
His records also show that he served with the Labour Corps as Private 565199 and then back with the South Lancs as Private 240652
He was demobilised on 13th January 1919, by which time his address was Victoria Place, Prescot.
His medal entitlement was to the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Herbert died in Prescot in 1967, aged 77.
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