John BAALMAN

BAALMAN, John

Service Number: 2120
Enlisted: 17 May 1915
Last Rank: Private
Last Unit: Royal Flying Corps
Born: Rockdale, New South Wales , Australia, 27 July 1894
Home Town: Neutral Bay, North Sydney, New South Wales
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Draughtsman
Died: St. Leonards, New South Wales, Australia, 18 August 1966, aged 72 years, cause of death not yet discovered
Cemetery: Not yet discovered
Memorials:
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World War 1 Service

17 May 1915: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2120, 13th Infantry Battalion
14 Jun 1915: Involvement Private, 2120, 13th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '11' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Wandilla embarkation_ship_number: A62 public_note: ''
14 Jun 1915: Embarked Private, 2120, 13th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Wandilla, Sydney
16 Mar 1917: Discharged AIF WW1, Discharged in England in consequence of being commissioned as 2nd Lt, Royal Flying Corps, with effect from 16 March 1917
17 Mar 1917: Involvement Royal Flying Corps

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Biography contributed by Stephen Brooks

Joined The 13th Battalion, Gallipoli, 2 August 1915. Admitted to 2nd Australian Stationary Hospital, Mudros, 25 September 1915 (diarrhea); discharged to duty, 9 October 1915.

Disembarked Alexandria, 3 January 1916 (general Gallipoli evacuation).

Transferred to 45th Bn, 3 March 1916. Transferred to 1st Anzac Headquarters, 21 March 1916. Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 22 March 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 28 March 1916. Promoted Corporal, 1 May 1916.

Appointed Lance Sergeant, 1 April 1916; promoted Sergeant, 1 June 1916.

Selected to attend No 1 Royal Flying Corps Officers Cadet Bn, England, 9 November 1916, with a view to subsequent commission in the RFC.

Flew with 60th Squadron RFC and the 29th Squadron RAF from 9 October 1918.

2nd Lt. J. Baalman flying a Nieuport with 60 Squadron RFC crashed on the 24 July 1917, swerved and overturned on takeoff for practice upon joining Squadron, survived unscathed.

Lt. J. Baalman, whilst flying an SE5 with 29 Squadron, crashed on the 3 November 1918, when he overshot the aerodrome and ran into ditch on landing from line patrol. Unhurt.

Scored one of the last aerial victories of the First World War  -- a Fokker DVII crashed 15:45, 10 November 1918, SE Moorleghem. Baalman was flying an SE5a with 29 Squadron.

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