Edward Francis Balston DSO, RN
| Birth details unknown |
| Ranks
Retired: 8 Apr 1955 Decorations
|
Warship Commands listed for Edward Francis Balston, RN
| Ship | Rank | Type | From | To |
| HMS H 49 (N 49) | Lt. | Submarine | 2 Aug 1939 | 24 Nov 1939 |
| HMS H 34 (N 34) | Lt. | Submarine | 29 Nov 1939 | 26 Apr 1940 |
| HMS Tribune (N 76) | Lt. | Submarine | 8 May 1940 | 2 Jan 1941 |
| HMS Truant (N 68) | Lt.Cdr. | Submarine | 19 Mar 1942 | 24 Apr 1942 |
| HMS Trusty (N 45) | Lt.Cdr. | Submarine | Apr/May 42 | 10 Oct 1943 |
| HMS Trump (P 333) | Cdr. | Submarine | 6 May 1944 | 16 Apr 1945 |
Career information
We currently have no career / biographical information on this officer.
Events related to this officer
Submarine HMS Tribune (N 76)
10 May 1940
Upon completion of the repairs to her engine clutches HMS Tribune (Lt. E.F. Balston, RN) departs her builders yard at Greenock for trials.
12 May 1940
HMS Tribune (Lt. E.F. Balston, RN) departs Greenock for her 4th war patrol. She is ordered to patrol in the North Sea.
28 May 1940
HMS Tribune (Lt. E.F. Balston, RN) ends her 4th war patrol at Rosyth.
10 Jun 1940
HMS Tribune (Lt. E.F. Balston, RN) departs Rosyth for her 5th war patrol at Rosyth. She is ordered to patrol off the West coast of Norway.
22 Jun 1940
HMS Tribune (Lt. E.F. Balston, RN) makes a torpedo attack on an enemy merchant of about 7000 GRT off Standlandet, Norway. All torpedoes fired missed their target.
(All times are zone -1)
0136 hours - Dived on sighted a ship, position 61º44'N, 04º29'E. The ship was later seen to be a merchant ship of about 7000 to 8000 tons.
0203 hours - Fired four torpedoes, no hits were obtained.
0208 hours - Surfaced to chase and attack with the deck gun but the contact was soon lost in a rain squall. The chase was abandoned after almost half an hour.
25 Jun 1940
HMS Tribune (Lt. E.F. Balston, RN) ends her 5th war patrol at Rosyth.
4 Jul 1940
HMS Tribune (Lt. E.F. Balston, RN) departs Rosyth for her 6th war patrol. She is ordered to patrol off the West coast of Norway near Bergen.
10 Jul 1940
HMS Tribune (Lt. E.F. Balston, RN) ends her 6th war patrol at Rosyth.
27 Jul 1940
HMS Tribune (Lt. E.F. Balston, RN) departs Rosyth for her 7th war patrol. She is ordered to patrol off the South coast of Norway.
5 Aug 1940
HMS Tribune (Lt. E.F. Balston, RN) ends her 7th war patrol at Rosyth.
8 Aug 1940
HMS Tribune (Lt. E.F. Balston, RN) is docked at Rosyth.
10 Aug 1940
HMS Tribune (Lt. E.F. Balston, RN) is undocked.
23 Aug 1940
HMS Tribune (Lt. E.F. Balston, RN) departs Rosyth for her 8th patrol. She is ordered to patrol in the North Atlantic to the North-West of the Hebrides.
6 Sep 1940
HMS Tribune (Lt. E.F. Balston, RN) attacks a submarine about 15 nautical miles north-east of St. Kilda, Hebrides in position 57º58'N, 08º14'W. Two torpedoes were fired but these missed their target. It leaves little doubt that the torpedoes were fired against the German submarine U-56 as this was the only submarine passing through that general area on that day. The Germans however reported no attack.
(All times are zone -1)
0600 hours - Heard loud HE bearing red 150 degrees. bearing drew rapidly ahead.
0602 hours - Contact was now ahead, range about 1400 yards. Nothing could be sighted through the periscope however. The target crossed ahead and Tribune altered course. Asdic was still in contact.
0633 hours - While Tribune was stopped at greater depth Asdic reported that it looked like that three torpedoes were fired.
0637 hours - Tribune came to 60 feet. The target was right ahead at a range of about 1000 yards.
0638 hours - The target crossed the bow at a range of about 700 yards.
0640 hours - Fired two torpedoes from a depth of 70 feet. The torpedoes were set to 44 and 38 feet. 25 Seconds after firing the first torpedo there was a violent explosion and the HE immediately ceased. The second torpedo was heard to detonate after 8 minutes at the end of its running range. Came to periscope depth but found nothing in sight.
0655 hours - Surfaced to collect evidence. Oil was seen to float on the surface and it was also though that some clothing was seen. This was not seen again after Tribune had turned.
7 Sep 1940
HMS Tribune (Lt. E.F. Balston, RN) ends her 8th war patrol at Rothesay.
16 Sep 1940
HMS Tribune (Lt. E.F. Balston, RN) departs Holy Loch for her 9th war patrol. She is ordered to patrol in the Bay of Biscay.
20 Sep 1940
HMS Tribune (Lt. E.F. Balston, RN) arrives at Falmouth to repair a defect.
22 Sep 1940
After repairs HMS Tribune (Lt. E.F. Balston, RN) departs Falmouth for her patrol area.
26 Sep 1940
HMS Tribune (Lt. E.F. Balston, RN) attacks the German submarine U-138 with 5 torpedoes about 10 nautical miles South-West of Ile de Groix in position 47º32'N, 03º38'W. All torpedoes fired missed their target. Tribune was depth charged after this attack but managed to escape.
(All times are zone -1)
1035 hours - Sighted a type 7 uboat bearing 040 degrees. Range was 3500 yards. The course of the uboat was 310 degrees. Started attack.
The uboat turned away and when the attack was set up she was stern on. A second uboat was now sighted bearing 110 degrees, range 3000 yards, course 350 degrees. Turned to attack this uboat.
1047 hours - In position 47º32'N, 03º38'W fired five torpedoes from 2700 yards. It was intended to fire six torpedoes but tube no.5 misfired. All torpedoes missed. Four end of run detonations were heard between 8 and 10 minutes after firing. These uboats were making rendez-vouz with A/S trawlers to enter Lorient. Two of these trawlers closed and started dropping depth charges but these were not close.
1200 hours - The trawlers were seen to close at high speed and dropped two depth charges fairly close. Both trawlers left the area shortly afterwards.
According to German sources the uboats were U-47 and the above mentioned U-138. It was the last one that was fired upon by Tribune. They were making rendez-vouz with the auxiliary submarine chasers UJ-122, UJ-128 and UJ-E. The KTB of U-138 mentions that one of the torpedoes ran under and another one missed just ahead.
3 Oct 1940
HMS Tribune (Lt. E.F. Balston, RN) ends her 9th war patrol at Holy Loch. Tribune returned from patrol with engine problems.
7 Oct 1940
HMS Tribune (Lt. E.F. Balston, RN) arrives at Ardrossan for a short refit.
22 Oct 1940
Upon completion of her short refit HMS Tribune (Lt. E.F. Balston, RN) departs Ardrossan for Holy Loch where she arrived later the same day.
29 Oct 1940
HMS Tribune (Lt. E.F. Balston, RN) departs Holy Loch for a trial run in the Irish Sea.
31 Oct 1940
HMS Tribune (Lt. E.F. Balston, RN) returns to Holy Loch.
11 Nov 1940
HMS Tribune (Lt. E.F. Balston, RN) arrives at Glasgow for a battery refit at Barclay Curle.
26 Nov 1940
HMS Tribune (Lt. E.F. Balston, DSO, RN) ends her battery refit at Glasgow and returns to Holy Loch.
3 Dec 1940
HMS Tribune (Lt. E.F. Balston, DSO, RN) departs Holy Loch for her 10th war patrol. She is ordered to patrol in the Bay of Biscay.
16 Dec 1940
HMS Tribune (Lt. E.F. Balston, DSO, RN) attacks the German tanker Karibisches Meer (6973 GRT, built 1917) in the Bay of Biscay east of Ile de Yeu, France in position 46º46'N, 02º38'W. All torpedoes fired missed their target.
(All times are zone -1)
1015 hours - Sighted aircraft to the Northward.
1110 hours - Sighted smoke bearing 330 degrees. Shortly afterwards sighted a dazzle-painted tanker with a trawler ahead and one astern. They were steering 140 degrees. Closed to attack.
1121 hours - Fired six torpedoes from the internal bow tubes. Range was 4500 yards. No.1 tube misfired but was fired as the last torpedo of the salvo instead. All torpedoes were heard to run. After the attack the aircraft was quite close and the trawlers were closing at speed so Tribune went deep. About 30 depth charges were dropped in half an hour but Tribune manages to slip away.
19 Dec 1940
HMS Tribune (Lt. E.F. Balston, DSO, RN) attacks a German merchant of 4000 to 5000 tons in the Bay of Biscay west-south-west of Belle Ile, France in position 47º02'N, 04º14'W.
(All times are zone -1)
0953 hours - Heard HE.
0940 hours - Sighted a Mowe-class torpedo boat bearing 270 degrees. Started attack.
0945 hours - Sighted a merchant vessel of 4000 to 5000 tons. She was dazzle-painted. Bearing 270 degrees, course 080 degrees. Broke off attack on the torpedo boat and shifted to this ship. The attack was very difficult due to the effective camouflage.
1012 hours - Fired six torpedoes from the internal bow tubes from 7500 yards. One explosion followed 35 seconds after firing. This explosion put the Asdic out of order. Two more explosions followed after about 7 and 8 minutes. Tribune went deep upon firing. The torpedo boat did not counter-attack.
24 Dec 1940
HMS Tribune (Lt. E.F. Balston, DSO, RN) ends her 10th war patrol at Holy Loch.
Submarine HMS Truant (N 68)
22 Mar 1942
HMS Truant (Lt.Cdr. E.F. Balston, DSO, RN) carries out exercises off Colombo together with HMS Express (Lt.Cdr. F.J. Cartwright, RN), HMS Shoreham (Cdr. G.P. Claridge, RN) and HMS Aster (Lt. W.L. Smith, RNR).
23 Mar 1942
HMS Truant (Lt.Cdr. E.F. Balston, DSO, RN) departs Colombo for her 23th war patrol (2nd in the Far East). She is ordered to patrol in the Malacca Straits.
For the daily and attack positions of HMS Truant during this patrol see the map below.
HMS Truant 23th war patrol click here for bigger map
1 Apr 1942
HMS Truant (Lt.Cdr. E.F. Balston, DSO, RN) torpedoes and sinks the Japanese merchant cargo ships Yae Maru (6780 GRT, built 1919) and Shunsei Maru (4939 GRT, built 1911) in the Malacca Strait about 80 nautical miles west-north-west of Penang, Malaya in position 05º42'N, 98º57'E.
(All times are zone -6)
1940 hours - Sighted three ships bearing 285 degrees, steering South-East. Dived and started attack.
2013 hours - Fired six torpedoes at one of the merchant ships from 2700 yards. It was intended to fire three at this ship and then three at the other leading ship. A failure in drill resulted in the firing of all six torpedoes of the salvo at only one of the ships. One hit was obtained. The target immediately took a heavy list to port and began to settle to the stern. The third ship altered course towards and Truant went deep to evade.
Upon returning to periscope depth it was found the the torpedoed ship was still afloat and that the other two were steering erratic courses in her vicinity. An other oppurtunity for attack was awaited. Eventually one of the other two ships went alongside the damaged one.
2113 hours - Fired 2 torpedoes from 5400 yards. One of them was heard to hit Truants main ballast tank after firing. The other torpedo hit the stern of the second ship, which sank after only a few minutes. The first ship sank four minutes later.
2127 hours - Surfaced and set of in pursuit of the third ship that had left the scene steering North-East. The chase was abandoned within the hour.
12 Apr 1942
HMS Truant (Lt.Cdr. E.F. Balston, DSO, RN) ends her 23th war patrol (2nd in the Far East) at Colombo.
Submarine HMS Trusty (N 45)
4 Jun 1942
HMS Trusty (Lt.Cdr. E.F Balston, DSO, RN) torpedoes and sinks the Japanese merchant cargo ship Toyohashi Maru (7031 GRT, built 1915) in Strait of Malacca in position 07º14'N, 98º06'E.
At 2300 hours (time zone -6) on 3 June 1942, while in position 10 nautical miles bearing 230 Pulo Raja, HMS Trusty sighted smoke from 2 ships bearing 020. At 2315 hours Trusty dived to attack.
At 0030 hours on 4 June 1942 Lt.Cdr. Balston fired four torpedoes at the leading ship. Two hits were obtained and the target was seen to settle on an even keel slightly down by the head. The second ship, half a mile astern of the first ship, made a 180 degree turn before it could be attacked and fled the area zig-zagging wildly.
At 0054 hours the first ship sank as a result of the two torpedo hits. Trusty surfaced four minutes later and attempted to get ahead of the second ship which was in sight about 4 nautical miles to the northward.
At 0200 hours another ship was sighted and Lt. Balston broke of the chase to close this ship.
At 0207 hours Trusty dived to attack.
At 0246 hours Trusty surfaced to attack with the deck gun. 6 rounds were fired before the enemy returned the fire. Also another ship not sighted before opened fire. Lt.Cdr. Balston broke of the attack.
18 Nov 1942
HMS Trusty (Lt.Cdr. E.F. Balston, DSO, RN) torpedoes and damages the Japanese troop transport Columbia Maru (5617 GRT) near Penang, Malaya in position 06º21'N, 99º05'E.
Submarine HMS Trump (P 333)
5 Jul 1944
Trump departs her builders yard at Barrow-in-Furness for Holy Loch.
6 Jul 1944
Trump performs trials at Gare Loch.
7 Jul 1944
Trump performs trials at Inchmarnock.
8 Jul 1944
Trump performs a full speed trial on the measured mile at Bute Sound. After this trial Trump is commissioned by Cdr. E.F. Balston, DSO, RN. A period of more trials and training on the Scottish west coast and Northern Ireland follows. This period last to mid-September 1944.
21 Sep 1944
HMS Trump (Cdr. E.F. Balston, DSO, RN) departs Lerwick at 1615 hours (time zone -1) for her 1st war patrol (work-up patrol). She is to patrol in the North Sea.
HMS Trump 1st war patrol (work-up patrol) daily positionsclick here for bigger map
30 Sep 1944
HMS Trump (Cdr. E.F. Balston, DSO, RN) arrives at Tobermory after her work-up patrol. She now proceeds to Holy Loch and then to her builders yard at Barrow-in-Furness. Afterwards she proceeds to Portsmouth.
12 Jan 1945
HMS Trump (Cdr. E.F. Balston, DSO, RN) departs Portsmouth for Portland.
13 Jan 1945
HMS Trump (Cdr. E.F. Balston, DSO, RN) departs Portland for Gibraltar. Final destination is Trincomalee.
For Trumps daily positions during the passage to Trincomalee see the map below.
HMS Trump passage Portland - Trincomaleeclick here for bigger map
19 Jan 1945
HMS Trump (Cdr. E.F. Balston, DSO, RN) arrives at Gibraltar.
23 Jan 1945
HMS Trump (Cdr. E.F. Balston, DSO, RN) departs Gibraltar for Malta.
27 Jan 1945
HMS Trump (Cdr. E.F. Balston, DSO, RN) arrives at Malta.
2 Feb 1945
HMS Trump (Cdr. E.F. Balston, DSO, RN) departs Malta for Port Said.
8 Feb 1945
HMS Trump (Cdr. E.F. Balston, DSO, RN) arrives at Port Said.
10 Feb 1945
HMS Trump (Cdr. E.F. Balston, DSO, RN) departs Port Said for Ismalia.
11 Feb 1945
HMS Trump (Cdr. E.F. Balston, DSO, RN) departs Ismalia for Aden.
16 Feb 1945
HMS Trump (Cdr. E.F. Balston, DSO, RN) arrives at Aden.
18 Feb 1945
HMS Trump (Cdr. E.F. Balston, DSO, RN) departs Aden for Trincomalee.
1 Mar 1945
HMS Trump (Cdr. E.F. Balston, DSO, RN) arrives at Trincomalee
13 Mar 1945
HMS Trump (Cdr. E.F. Balston, DSO, RN) departs Trincomalee at 1400 hours (time zone -6.5) for her 2nd war patrol (1st in Far Eastern waters). She is to patrol along the western Siamese coast. Afterwards she is to proceed to Fremantle, Australia.
For HMS Trumps daily (1200 hours) positions during this patrol see the map below
HMS Trump 2nd war patrol daily positionsclick here for bigger map
18 Mar 1945
HMS Trump (Cdr. E.F. Balston, DSO, RN) arrives in her patrol area off the Mergui archipaligo.
27 Mar 1945
HMS Trump (Cdr. E.F. Balston, DSO, RN) leaves her patrol area for air/sea resque duties. She sets course for Australia on the 29th.
30 Mar 1945
At 1109 hours (time zone -6.5) HMS Trump (Cdr. E.F. Balston, DSO, RN) is attacked with two bombs by a Japanse Jake-aircraft in position 11º30'N, 94º30'E. Trump crash dived. Only some minor damage was caused as well as a few broken lights.
13 Apr 1945
HMS Trump (Cdr. E.F. Balston, DSO, RN) ends her 2nd war patrol at 1025 hours (time zone -6.5 / 1155 hours zone -8) when she secured alongside HMS Adamant at Fremantle, Australia. The patrol was uneventful.