Sgt Robert Ballentine, photo taken around the time of his enlistment.
Rear Gunner P/O Robert E Ballentine RCAF was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and was the son of Wilfrid and Grace Ballentine of Vesta Drive in the city. Bob and pilot, David Evans were friends prior to enlisting. Bob attended Both Forest Hill Public School and had then attended University of Toronto Schools (UTS) where David also went to and both boys also attended Grace Church-on-the-Hill. Bob enlisted in April 1941, trained at Clinton and went overseas in 1942 but not intially as aircrew. He had a brother, Richard, and sister, Margaret, in Canada. Bob would have gone through basic training as an individual but one presumes that he and David met up at the O.T.U. in the UK and agreed to form part of a crew. Not only were Bob and David friends but both their fathers were friends as was Bob's sister and David. It was no doubt a double tragedy to both families when both men were killed in the same crash at Kepwick Bank. Bob was 22 years old.
The headstone of P/O Ballentine headstone at Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery, Yorkshire.
A further photograph of Bob Ballentine.