Auction Catalogue

21 September 2007

Starting at 10:00 AM

.

Orders, Decorations and Medals

Washington Mayfair Hotel  London  W1J 5HE

Lot

№ 849

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21 September 2007

Hammer Price:
£2,000

The Great War ‘Western Front’ M.C. & Bar group of four awarded to Major C. P. L. Balcombe, Royal Engineers, who was mortally wounded on 25 October 1918 and died four days later

Military Cross, G.V.R., with Second Award Bar, unnamed as issued, in case of issue; 1914-15 Star (2. Lieut., R.E.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaf (Major); together with an original studio portrait photograph thought to be of the recipient good very fine (4) £1800-2200

M.C. London Gazette 1 January 1918.

Bar to M.C. London Gazette 16 September 1918 ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty while commanding his company. Under heavy machine-gun fire he selected sites for and constructed strong points. He also personally went out in front of the lines to bring in a small detachment who were isolated. Owing to his fine example of coolness his company, besides carrying on their own duties, made a counter-attack and captured several prisoners.’

M.I.D.
London Gazette 2 January 1917

Charles Percy Lionel Balcombe was wounded in action at he Battle of the Selle on 25 October 1918 and died of wounds four days later on 29 October 1918, whilst serving with the 11th Field Company, Royal Engineers. He is buried at Awoingt British Cemetery, France. Sold with a quantity of copied research detail, including copy of news cutting announcing his death, taken from
The Cornish Post and Mining News, which states that he was previously a student of the Camborne School of Mines. His name is also mentioned in the book, The British Volunteers of Latin America Roll of Honour.