Cuthbert Francis Balleine

Cuthbert Francis Balleine

Cuthbert Francis Balleine (1883-1915) was killed in the trenches in World War 1.

He was the son of the Dean of Jersey, George Orange Balleine and Florence Gardener and, like his brothers Austin Humphrey Balleine and Robert Wilfred Balleine moved to Jersey with his parents in 1888.

Education

He excelled at Victoria College, winning gold medals for Classics and French and a CI Scholarshop to Exeter College, Oxford. He played in the school rugby 15 from 1899 to 1901 and rowed for his college eight at Oxford.

He joined an archaeological expedition to Nubia and lived in a house boat on the Nile until becoming ill and having to return to England.

He returned to his college as a Fellow and sub-rector and was prominent in the Scout movement, forming an early troop and commanding the National Camp for several years.

War

He joined the 8th Battalion, Rifle Brigade on the outbreak of war and on 3 July 1915 was killed instantly when a shell landed on top of him.