Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Five: Captain N. A. M. Balders, Suffolk Regiment, who died of wounds in Korea in February 1950, while attached to the Royal Ulster Rifles

Defence and War Medals; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine 1945-48 (Capt., Suffolk); Korea 1950-53 (Capt., Suffolk); U.N. Korea 1950-54, the first three mounted as worn, generally extremely fine (5) £2000-2500

Nigel Arthur Morley Balders, who was born in Hereford in August 1922, the son of Colonel D. V. M. Balders, O.B.E., M.C., was granted an emergency commission in the Royal Artillery in April 1942, and transferred to the Suffolk Regiment in February 1945.

Active service having followed in Palestine after the War, Balders was appointed Adjutant at the regimental depot, and it was while employed there that he volunteered for active service in Korea in 1950.

As verified by The Royal Ulster Rifles in Korea, he was attached to the 1st Battalion as C.O. of the “Battle Group”, and he died of wounds after an action in the Han Valley on 20 February 1951:

‘Meanwhile, out in the valley, the diversionary force was at work. Soon after they opened fire, however, the enemy retaliated with accurate mortar fire on the infantry in the open by the tanks and one man was killed and three wounded in the Battle Group. Captain Nigel was also severely wounded and died that night. He was a fine officer, and in the short time he had been with the Battalion had endeared himself to those with whom he served ... ’

He is buried in the United Nations Military Cemetery at Tanggok, Korea.