Herbert Gregory Ballantyne

Born 20 Aug 1917 - Died 14 Aug 1940

Service number: WWII 36265 AWMM
Also known as: —
Armed force / branch: Air Force AWMM
Last rank: Pilot Officer AWMM Royal Air Force, No. 206 Squadron AWMM
War: World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM

Herbert Gregory Ballantyne — Portrait (kindly provided by family) - This image may be subject to copyright

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Biographical information

Herbert was the youngest son of Herbert Gregory and Edith Emily Ballantyne (nee Hartshorn) of Hastings, who at the time of his birth were farming at Puketapu, Hawkes Bay.

His father, Herbert Ballantyne Senior, developed diabetes and in 1924 and was forced to sell the farm due to this illness. He died in at his home in France Road, Hastings 1925 aged 56 years

Herbert started his schooling at the Puketapu School on 5 February 1923. He attended the Hastings West School from 1929-1930 and the Hastings High School from 1930-1933. At Hastings High School he sat for the University of New Zealand's Matriculation examination in December 1933. He failed in English but gained an A pass in mathematics. He enjoyed sport, playing football for the 1st XV and 1st XI at Hastings West School. He was also a member of the Heretaunga Swimming Club, the Craggy Range Rifle Club, the Territorial Badminton Club and played tennis on the family court

On 1 February 1934 he took a position with the clerical staff of the Hawkes Bay Farmers Cooperative Association at Hastings. In order to better his position he joined the Stock Department (clerical division) of Dalgety and Company Ltd on 1 November 1934

In March 1936 he joined the Territorial D Support Company of the Hawkes Bay Regiment. He attained the rank of Corporal and served until 1938

In 1938 he successfully applied to join the Civil Reserve of the Royal New Zealand Air Force. On 10 February 1939 he applied for a short service commission with the RNZAF. At this time he had just completed 40 hours of flying, having undergone his elementary flying training with the Hawkes Bay and East Coast Aero Club. He was provisionally selected for a short service commission in June 1939 and granted a temporary commission to the rank of Pilot Officer during his period of training in New Zealand. He was posted to the Ground Training School, Wigram, on 25 October 1939 for his service flying training and on 12 February 1940 he was awarded the flying badge

Herbert embarked for England on board the ship the Rangitane on 23 February 1940. According to the New Zealand Gazette No 91, 13 November 1941, he relinquished his commission to the RNZAF and was granted a short service commission with the RAF

On 27 April 1940 he was posted to No 1 Operational Training Unit, Silloth, Cumberland, where he flew an Anson Aircraft, afterwards converting to a Hudson Aircraft at the same station

In late June 1940 Herbert was posted to No 206 Squadron at Bircham, Newton. From Bircham, Newton, as the Pilot of a Hudson, he took part in 17 operational flights. These operations were shipping convoys over the North Sea; photographic reconnaissance flights of Hamburg and Breman and night reconnaissance flights and bombing raids on Amsterdam

Herbert was killed in an air accident on 14 August 1940 during an operational night flight . A full report was made on the accident and his death was not attributed to enemy action. It was found that the accident occurred due to loss of control during a turn after taking off at night. Additionally, this turn was made too close to the aerodrome and at too low a height. The Wing Commander of No 206 Squadron said "This pilot, although comparatively inexperienced, was of a very confident nature, he had done nearly half of his total flying on Hudson Aircraft. Although we cannot be certain of the exact cause of the accident, it is thought that he had his cockpit lights on too brightly, and did not realize he was over-banking on his initial turn until recovery was too late." The port wing hit higher ground to the south west of the aerodrome. The plane then crashed into the ground at a speed of 200 knots, cart wheeled over several times and disintegrated and was destroyed by fire. Three of the four crew member were killed

Herbert is buried in the Great Bircham (St Mary) Churchyard in Bircham. The inscription on Herbert's plot at Great Bircham (St Mary) Churchyard reads: BALLANTYNE, PILOT OFFR. (PILOT) HERBERT GREGORY, 36265. R.A.F 206 SQUADRON. 14TH AUGUST, 1940. AGED 22 SON OF HERBERT GREGORY BALLANTYNE, AND OF EDITH EMILY BALLANTYNE (NEE HARTSHORN) OF HASTINGS, HAWKES BAY, NEW ZEALAND

Herbert is also remembered on the Memorial Stone at St Matthews Church, Hastings which was dedicated on Sunday 22 April 1951

Herbert is again remembered by a plaque on the right side wall inside of Puketapu Church, Hawkes Bay. It reads: TO THE GLORY OF GOD

AND IN THE LOVING MEMORY OF PILOT OFFICER HERBERT GREGORY BALLANTYNE. RNZAF. KILLED IN ACTION 14TH AUGUST 1940. AGED 22 YEARS. GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS WE WILL REMEMBER THEM

Attended Hastings High School (Source: RNZAF Biographies (R17845607))

317 hours as Pilot (Source: RNZAF Biographies (R17845607)) AWMM

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Herbert Gregory Ballantyne