Regiment: R.A.F..
Died: 27 March 1940 aged 27 in North Sea. Killed in a flying accident.
Cemetery: Runnymede Memorial Panel 5.
Son of Francis William and Ellen Catherine Balston, of Maidstone, Kent.
Math. VI.
Trinity College, Cambridge. B.A. (3rd Cl. Mech. Sci Trip.) 1934.
In business.
Husband of Penelope Balston.
500 Sqdn. Royal Air Force (Auxiliary Air Force)
The squadron was part of RAF Coastal Command flying Anson Mk.Is in general reconnaissance.
'From school he went to Trinity College, Cambridge, and later into business in Kent. While at Cambridge he joined the Air Force Reserve and later the Auxiliary Air Force, and so had been flying for about seven years, when he was killed in an accident over the North Sea in April, 1940. In 1934, he stroked the First Trinity "A" Crew, which won the Visitors' Challenge Cup at Henley; he was also interested in ocean racing and took part in many sailing competitions. "No one who knew Peter Balston at all well could have helped loving him, for behind his perpetual high spirits and apparent levity it was easy to see the man of strong purpose, high integrity and great kindliness. A number of letters which I have seen testify to this and to his popularity with all those who worked at Springfield Mills, Maidstone. His was a gay, gallant and most attractive nature." (R.B.P.)' (Malvernian, July 1940).
NB: He is mentioned as being in 500 squadron at CWGC but there is no mention of a Balston in the 500 squadron operational war diaries for March 1940.