PHANTOM Balfour-Paul, Ian Valentine

John Robertson

Administrator
Staff member
  • SURNAME
Balfour-Paul
  • FORENAME
Ian Valentine
  • UNIT
A Squadron GHQ Liaison Regiment,R.A.C.
  • RANK
Captain
  • NUMBER
179620
  • AWARD
Military Cross, Mention in Despatches
  • PLACE
N.W. Europe 1944-45
  • ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
born 14.2.1916 Bournemouth,Dorset
son of John William and Muriel (nee Monteith) Balfour Paul
educated Wellington College
educated Pembroke College,Cambridge
assistant master,Mill Hill School
biology master,Merchiston Castle School.Edinburgh 1939
141 or 142 OCTU
commissioned 29.3.1941 Royal Engineers
L Squadron
B Squadron early 1944
A Squadron 14.3.1944
awarded M.C. for Rhine Crossing
schoolmaster, Merchiston Castle School postwar (housemaster 1953-69,retired 1971)
unmarried
resided Castle Douglas, Kircudbrightshire, UK
died 16.6.2010 (Aged 94)
London Gazette 37213, 7th August 1945, Page 4049 (MiD)
London Gazette 37442, 22nd January 1946, Page 638 (MC)
 

CITATION:

Military Cross : The nature of this officer's duty was to pass information as to the progress of operations direct by W/T from the forward areas to Army HQ. On three specific occasions he discharged these duties with conspicuous success under enemy fire.

On the morning of 6 June 44 he landed with 3 Cdn Inf Div over the beaches at Arromanches. He at once established W/T contact with his base in England and, during a period of exceptional difficulty and enemy interference, continued to pass information of great value as to the progress of operation.

On the 1st Nov 44 he took part in the assault by 4 SS Bde on the island of Walcheren. His Weasel was sunk during the approach but Capt Balfour-Paul swam ashore with his patrol under enemy fire and, using borrowed equipment, again proceeded in making W/T contact with his base.

On the morning of 24 March 45, he flew in by glider with his patrol during the crossing of the Rhine by 6 Airborne Div. Despite damage to his glider by flak and enemy mortar and small arms fire on landing he once again succeeded in established immediate contact with his base and during the ensuing progress of the Division, continued to pass information of the greatest value. On these and many other occasions Capt Balfour-Paul showed qualities of personal bravery and determination to succeed with his mission which were an inspiration to the men under his and of the very greatest value in enabling higher HQ to obtain a build-up picture of the progress of operations.

WEB LINKS:

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37213/supplement/4049 (MiD)
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37442/supplement/638 (MC)
https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C9467439
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/military-obituaries/army-obituaries/7886197/Ian-Balfour-Paul.html

NATIONAL ARCHIVES:

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C9467439
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Ian Valentine Balfour-Paul

This information has been taken from GHQ Liaison Regiment: A Nominal Roll with Short Biographies, by Asher CJ Pirt, MA

http://pirtonline.org/newpublication.aspx
http://www.lulu.com/content/paperback-book/ghq-liaison-regiment-a-nominal-roll-with-short-biographies/8334070
 
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