Robert Ballentine. Robert Elmer Ballentine was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada on 10th December 1921, and was the son of Wilfrid Laurier and Grace (nee Elmer) Ballentine of 102 Vesta Drive in the city. His father Wilfred's father had moved to Canada from Portadown, Ireland before Wilfred was born in Hamilton, Ontario. Robert (or Bob) had a sister (Margaret) and a brother (Richard) and another brother who had died at a young age in 1931. Bob and the pilot of Halifax LL178, David Evans, were friends prior to them enlisting into the RCAF. Bob had attended both Forest Hill Public School and then the University of Toronto Schools (UTS) where David Evans also went to and both boys also attended Grace Church-on-the-Hill. Not only were Bob and David friends but both their fathers were friends as was Bob's sister and David Evans. It was no doubt a double tragedy to both families when both men were killed in the same crash in Yorkshire, England in March 1944.
Bob was still a student when he enlisted for RCAF service on 23rd April 1941 in Toronto and on his attestation papers he stated that he wanted to enlist for ground duties to become a radio mechanic. After basic training in Canada he left for service in the UK in March 1942 and served at 21 OTU for a year as a radio mechanic as part of ground crew. In March 1943 he then re-mustered as aircrew and trained as an air gunner. After training at 2 AGS, beginning 11th June 1943, 23 OTU beginning 27th July 1943, 1659 HCU beginning 28th September 1943 he was posted to 434 Squadron on 27th October 1943. Bob would have gone through basic training as an individual but one presumes that he and David met up at 23 O.T.U. in the UK and both men agreed to form part of a crew. Sgt Robert Ballentine RCAF (R/102630) was twenty two years old when he died in the crash to Halifax LL178 at Kepwick Bank.
The headstone of P/O Ballentine headstone at Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery, Yorkshire. He was granted a commission well after his death to the rank of P/O on probation and the replacement white gravemarker reflects his promotion. The RCAF wrote to his family in December 1944 to inform them that he had been granted a commission and this letter is contained within his service file. After this date he became P/O Ballentine RCAF (C/89728).
A further photograph of Bob Ballentine. This must have been taken much earlier in the war, possibly when he enlisted.