Charles Percy Lionel Balcombe died of wounds received in action, on October 29th, 1918. He was 31 years of age, and was educated at Felsted School and Camborne School of Mines.
In 1910, he went to Brazil and worked for two years with the Brazilian Golden Hill Co., Ltd., whence he proceeded to Mexico, where he was engaged as shift boss on the Mexico Mines of El Oro, Ltd.
He resigned this post on the outbreak of the war, and was gazetted 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Engineers in the early part of 1915, proceeding to France shortly afterwards. He was wounded in the first Somme advance in 1916, and was promoted Captain early in 1917. He obtained his majority about a year later and was awarded the Military Cross. On September 18th, 1918, he received a Bar to his M.C. for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty while commanding his company. Under heavy machine gun fire he selected sites for, and constructed strong points; and also personally went out in front of the line to bring in a small detachment who were isolated. Owing to his fine example, his company, besides carrying on their own duties; made a counter-attack and captured several prisoners.
Mr. Balcombe was admitted to Studentship of the Institution in 1911, and was transferred to Associateship in 1914.
Vol. 28, Trans I.M.M. 1918-19, pp. ?
