Name: Maurice Edward Balcom Rank: Sergeant Service Number: R/76419 Service: 145 Squadron (Dartmouth), Royal Canadian Air Force Date of Birth: July 6, 1916 Place of Birth: Bear River, Annapolis County, Nova Scotia Date of Enlistment: December 30, 1940 Place of Enlistment: Halifax, Halifax County, Nova Scotia Address at Enlistment: Bear River, Annapolis County, Nova Scotia Age of Enlistment: 24 Occupation: Mechanic Marital Status: Married Religion: Baptist Next of Kin: Jessie Margaret Balcom (Wife), Bear River, NS Height: 6 feet, 1 1/4 inches Complexion: Medium Hair Colour: Light brown Eye Colour: Blue Date of Death: February 28, 1945 Age: 27 Cemetery: Mount Pleasant Cemetery, St. John’s, Newfoundland Grave: Section A, Plot 3, Grave K Commemorated on Page 493 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on October 21 Maurice Edward Balcom was the son of Oscar Richmond Balcom (1891-1948) and Blanche Edith (Clayton) Balcom (1895-1965), of Bear River, Nova Scotia, the brother of Frances Vivan Balcom (b. 1920), and the husband of Jessie M. (Kennedy) Balcom (1912-1960), of Bear River. Maurice attended public school in Milford Corner from 1921-1929, completing the 8th grade. Maurice and Jessie married in August of 1935. They had two daughters, Shirley-Lee Frances (Balcom) Cartright Bowcott (1935-2008), and Seretha Zandrya Balcom (b. 1940). Prior to enlistment, Maurice was working as a mechanic and chauffeur (driver) for Lincoln Pulp Company. After enlisting in December 1940, Maurice served as an Aero Engine Mechanic in the Royal Canadian Air Force. Sergeant Maurice Edward Balcom died of illness on February 28, 1945, while assigned to RCAF Station Torbay, in Torbay, Newfoundland. He is interred at the Mount Pleasant Cemetery in St. John’s, Newfoundland.

Source: Canadian Virtual War Memorial findagrave