View entry
Name: BALSON, Walter James
Nee: bro of Sidney Graham and Reginald Osmund Balson
Birth Date: 7 Dec 1903 Kilkeel, Co. Down, Ireland
Death Date: 5 May 1940 Nairobi
First Date: 1930
Last Date: 1940
Area: Box 66, Nairobi
Married: In Nairobi 29 Feb 1928 Rosetta Bennett b. 24 Sep 1904 Nairobi, d. 8 Feb 1986 Durban (dau of Alexander Bennett)
Children: Eileen Rose (1927 Kenya-1950 Kitale; Eric Walter (22 Aug 1930 Kenya-2013 Canada, became well known game ranger and conservationist); David (1932 Kenya)
Book Reference: Red 31, CWGC, Barnes
War Service: WW2 E.Af Corps of Signals
General Information:
CWGC - Nairobi (Forest Road) Cemetery - Serjeant W.J. Balson, SC/21, East African Corps of Signals. 5th May 1940. Block 16. Grave 69. Nairobi Forest Road Cemetery - Walter James Balson, British, age 36, died 5/5/40, WG Sergt. EA Signals
Dermot Balson: Walter (above) joined the navy, and when they stopped at Mombasa for some R&R in 1925, he deserted and never came back to the ship, or Ireland. His brothers Sidney and (my father) Reg followed some years later. Walter's daughter Eileen died tragically in 1950 in Kitale, leaving two small children.