Medals to the Liverpool Regiment from the Collection of Hal Giblin

Three: Second Lieutenant R. Balfour, 4th Battalion, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, formerly 8th Volunteer Battalion (Liverpool Scottish ‘Active Service Section’) attached 1st Battalion, Gordon Highlanders, and 10th (Scottish) Battalion, Liverpool Regiment, who was killed in action on 20 May 1918

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1902 (9064 Pte., Gordon Highrs.); British War and Victory Medals (2. Lieut.); together with memorial plaque (Robert Balfour) the Q.S.A. with some edge bruising and contact wear, therefore nearly very fine otherwise extremely fine (4) £300-350

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals to the Liverpool Regiment from the Collection of Hal Giblin.

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Robert Balfour was born in Liverpool on 16 May 1880 and educated at Liverpool Seaman’s Orphanage. During the Boer War Balfour was one of 23 men of the 8th Volunteer Battalion, Liverpool Regiment who served during the Boer War attached to the 1st Battalion, Gordon Highlanders.

The following in relation to this special service section is extracted from Bravest of Hearts, by Hal Giblin:

‘Development continued at a steady pace and in 1902, following a call for volunteers, the Liverpool Scottish was able to offer an ‘Active Service Section’, comprising one officer (Lieutenant J. Watson, the son of the battalion’s Padre) and 22 other ranks for service in South Africa...

On 25 March 1902, after due ceremony, the ‘Active Service Section’, a small part of a large reinforcing contingent, was embarked at Southampton en route for Capetown. Upon arrival in South Africa, Watson’s Section was attached to 1st Battalion, Gordon Highlanders and although too late to be involved in direct actions against the Boers, they were kept busy manning blockhouses and other potentially dangerous positions. Their contribution to the war was considered sufficiently worthy to earn the Liverpool Scottish its first battle honour.

Balfour subsequently ransferred to the Liverpool Scottish in April 1901, with whom he served until July 1914. He was attested for war service on 10 December 1915 under the Derby Scheme and posted to the Reserve, before eventually being mobilised on 29 December 1916 and rejoining the Liverpool Scottish early the following January. He was discharged to a commission in the 4th Battalion, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment on 25 September 1917, and killed in action whilst serving with this regiment on 20 May 1918. Second Lieutenant Robert Balfour is buried at Couin New British Cemetery, France.