Description
General Service Medal, bar Palestine, Company Sergeant Major Robert Purdie Balingall, Scots Guards.
Officially impressed: “2694695 GDSMN. R. BALLINGALL. S. GDS.”
Robert Purdie Ballingall, Born during 1915, the third born with this name, he was the eldest son of Police Superintendent Robert Purdie Ballingall, of Laurelbank in Cupar, Fifeshire. His family had been in Markinch for generations, his great grandfather was born there in 1820 and all his descendants since.
His father who he was named after was highly respected and one of the best liked officers in Fife, he held an incredible record as Superintendent of Police in Fife and was involved in almost all aspects of his home county. He later passed down once again the name of Robert Purdie Ballingall (4th) to his son in 1948.
Police Superintendent Ballingall (2nd) (1885-1979) was himself named after his own father also named Robert Purdie Ballingall (1st) (1856-1896) from Markinch, Fife, the name had originated from this mans wife, Margaret Purdie.
His father had also joined up with the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders aged only 18, serving in the Boer War as an 18 year old, followed by rising to Sergeant to take his discharge to the Police Force, when he returned home to Fife and had his son.
A young Guardsman Ballingall enlisted with the Scots Guards on 12th February 1934.
Served in Palestine for the pre war campaign of 1936-9, “In 1936, the 2nd Battalion Scots Guards were deployed to Palestine which was experiencing violent troubles during the Arab Revolt.”
His entitlement is confirmed on the medal roll which notes that at the time of compiling the roll he held the rank of Lance Corporal.
Before going out to war he got married.
With the outbreak of war, the 2nd Battalion was sent over to fight in the North African Campaign.
He was admitted to the Military Wing Hospital in Harrogate on 28th December 1940, with complaints of Abdominal Pain, returning to duty on 17th January 1941.
Later in the war on 2nd December 1942, he was taken in to the City Hospital in Carlisle, for a Gastric Investigation, the result after an operation was that he would be discharged as no longer fit for military service on 17th January 1943.
The Casualty Card notes that he was a Sergeant and Company Sergeant Major.
In later life he settled and died during 1974 in Newport, Monmoutshire, Wales.
His father would somehow outlive him, living until 94, but Robert had passed down the family name of “Robert Purdie Ballingall” to his son.
His Wedding in the Bromley Mercury, 3rd November 1939:
BROMLEY WEDDINGS
BRIDEGROOM AND BEST MAN IN UNIFORM, BALLINGALL-EADE
Both the Bridegroom and the Best man, his brother, were in their uniforms at the Wedding at St Luke’s, Bromley Common, on Saturday of Miss Hilda May Eade, only daughter of Mr and Mrs William E. Eade, of 6, Cowper Road, Bromley, and Corporal Robert Purdie Ballingall, of Luarelbank, Ceres Road, Cupar Fifreshire.
(Details Description of the Brides outfit followed)
Cpl John C. Ballingall, RASC, brother of the Bridegroom, was the Best Man.
The Vicar Canon F.W. Hassard-Short, officiated.
On Leaving for Scotland for the honeymoon the bride wore a grey tweed costume and navy hat. The Bridegroom’s parents travelled from Fifeshire to attend the wedding.
