Ganwyd Ernest Henry Balsom ym mhlwyf y Porth, sir Forannwg, yn fab i was Richard Henry Balsom a'i wraig Elizabeth, â'r teulu yn symud yn ddiweddarach i Corbett Crescent, Caerffili. Roedd yn 21 pan ymunodd â'r fyddin ar 5 Medi 1914. Yn ôl y papurau ardystiad pan ymunodd, roedd yn 5 troedfedd 5 modefedd o daldra, yn pwyso 118 pwys gyda mesuriad o 34 modfedd o gwmpas ei frest. Roedd yn landeg o bryd a gwedd, a dywedodd mai Bedyddiwr ydoedd ac aelod yn capel Saesneg Mount Carmel yn Ffordd Pontygwindy. Ymunodd â nawfed bataliwn y Gatrawd Gymreig a'i ddanfon i'r BEF ar 3 Medi 1915. Wedi gwasanaethu yn Ffrainc, danfonwyd ef i Salonika ar 1 Tachwedd 1915. Dyrchafwyd ef yn Gorpral yn Awst 1916 a'i ddyrchafu'n Is-lefftenant yn Hydref 1916. Dywedodd y Caerphilly Journal ar 9 Tachwedd 1916: "We congratulate Corpl. Ernest Balsom on his success in the recent examinations at Bristol when he passed the necessary tests and was granted a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant attached to the Welsh Regiment. Prior to joining the colours he was employed on the clerical staff of Messrs. J. Smith and Co., coal exporters, Cardiff, and was a teacher of shorthand at the Glamorgan County Council evening continuation classes. For a period he was also the representative of the "Caerphilly Journal." Lieut. Balsom enlisted in the 13th Welsh (Cardiff Pals) on September 4th, 1914, He was invalided home with malaria fever from Salonika. On recovery he was attached to the 12th Battalion Welsh Regiment and was sent to Officers Cadet Battalion, Bristol." Dywedodd adroddiad pellach yn Mehefin 1918: "We are pleased to record that Second Lieutenant E.H. Balsom has been promoted to First Lieutenancy. He was gazetted in October 1916, and has been on active service in France ever since and is now in England on a six month rest. He was for some time our correspondent at Caerphilly, and was active and popular in many phases of public life in the town. We offer our heartiest congratulations." Ond lladdwyd Lefftenant Balsom tra'n ymladd yn Morval ar ddydd Gwener 30 Awst. Mae hanes swyddogol y Gatrawd Gymreig yn dweud: "30th August- The next morning, at 5 a.m. the 13th and 14th Welch attempted to seize Morval without artillery support, but were only able to make a small advance, and suffered heavy casualties, the 13th Welch losing their gallant Adjutant, Captain C. J. Boulton, M.C., killed. It was evident that the village could only be taken after a bombardment and with artillery support. The 13th Welch were late at the assembly as orders were only given to at the last moment, and the 14th Welch consequently advanced unsupported and found the enemy in strength with machine guns wired in. By that evening, the 14th Welch had only four officers left." Llythyr gan yr Uwchgapten J. Daniels rannodd y newyddion trist â'r teulu Balsom. Cafodd ei argraffu yn y Caerphilly Journal ar 12 Medi 1918. 'Dear Mr. Balsom- I very much regret to have to inform you that your son was killed in action yesterday morning. He was a very fine fellow and had done most useful work in the present fighting. And I can assure you, that you have the sincere sympathy of the whole Battalion from the Colonel down. On the 3rd inst., the following letter was received from Lieut.-Col. E.F.Brooks: 'Dear Mr. Balsom. Please accept my sincere sympathy on the great loss you have sustained on the death of your son. He was killed while leading his company in an attack on the 30th August. He died in a most gallant and efficient manner. His death is a great loss to the Battalion as he was a popular and efficient officer.' Claddwyd Lt E.H. Balsom ym Mynwent Milwrol Brydeinig Morval yn Plot B, Rhes 25. Roedd yn 26 oed.