Lincoln University remembers the Battle of Passchendaele, October 1917

More than 200 students and old students of Canterbury Agricultural College (Lincoln University) served in the First World War of 1914-1918. Over 60 gave their lives.

Lincoln students and old students served in all the major theatres and actions of the First World War, including the Battle of Passchendaele between 1-18 October 1917.

For New Zealand, the most tragic day of this battle was Friday 12 October 1917.

British Command had earlier tasked an Anzac Corps with the capture of Passchendaele, a strategically placed village in Flanders, Belgium. It was a mistake. Enemy strength and defences were greater than anticipated and despite the warning sign of a serious defeat of British and Australian forces nearby on 9 October, the New Zealanders were permitted to begin their advance at dawn on 12 October, in sequence with the Corps’ 4th Australian Division. Everything conspired against them  -  artillery support was compromised by the ground conditions, rain had turned the terrain into sodden mud, there was uncut barbed wire and machine-gun fire from the front and flanks raked them. The New Zealanders were pinned down and progressively decimated. By the end of the day over 840 New Zealanders had died in the ill-fated attempt to capture Passchendaele.

It has been referred to as the blackest day in New Zealand’s military history.

Among those killed on Friday 12 October 1917 in the Battle of Passchendaele was former Canterbury Agricultural College student William John Balsillie​.

Balsillie, was a Lance-Corporal in the 2nd Battalion of the Otago Infantry Regiment. This regiment suffered the highest casualty rate of all the New Zealand units in the battle.

William John Balsillie, enrolled at Canterbury Agricultural College in February 1904, aged 17. He was from Palmerston North. He left Lincoln in December 1906 having been awarded the Diploma in Agriculture and the College Medal.

While at Canterbury Agricultural College Balsillie excelled at sport. He was a member of the 1st Rugby XV in 1905 and in the College Athletic Sports of 1906 he won the 100 yards sprint, the shot put and the long jump.

As far as consulted records indicate, William John Balsillie appears to be the only old student of Lincoln University killed at Passchendaele.