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 | 29 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 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)
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.
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.
16 Dec 1940
HMS Tribune (Lt. E.F. Balston, DSO, RN) attacks the German tanker Karibisches Meer (6973 GRT) in the Bay of Biscay east of Ile de Yeu, France in position 46º46'N, 02º38'S. All torpedoes fired missed their target.
19 Dec 1940
HMS Tribune (Lt. E.F. Balston, DSO, RN) attacks the German merchant Birkenfels (6322 GRT) in the Bay of Biscay west-south-west of Belle Ile, France in position 47º02'N, 04º14'S. All torpedoes fired missed their target due to the effective dazzle camouflage of the German ship.
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.
For HMS Trumps daily (1200 hours) positions during this patrol see the map below.
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.
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
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.