The First World War
Officers of The Royal Canadian Regiment

Maj. Ralph Edward Balders, M.C.

Soldiers of the First World War database entry - R.E. Balders

Lieut. R.E. Balders (1912)

Capt. R.E. Balders (1918)

Service:

• Graduate Sandhurst 1906
• Transport Officers Certificate A.S.C. Aldershot 1909
• Signaling Instructors Certificate, Aldershot School of Signaling 1910
• 2nd Lieut 2nd Bn Lincolnshires 4 May 1907 - 28 May 1911
• Regimental Service, The R.C.R.; 1911 - 1930
• Joined The RCR 25 Nov 1911
• First World War - Wounded. 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal. M.C.
• Capt, The RCR, 26 Jun 1915
• Attached 5th Cdn Res Bde Staff as Understudy to Bde Major - Apr - May 1917
• Lecturer Trench Warfare & Tactics, C.W.S. May 1916 - March 1917
• Rejoined The RCR 23 Aug 1917
• Wounded in Action 24 Aug 1918 (S.W. head)
• Rejoined from C.C.S. 31 Aug 1917
• Appointed Signal Officer 26 Sep 1917
• Granted 14 leave to U.K. 11 Nov - 3 Dec 1917
• 2IC Bn. 10 Jun - 8 Nov 1918
• Awarded M.C., L.G. 1 Feb 1919
• 20 Sep 1925; Transferred from "C" Company, London, to "D" Company, St John's P.Q.
• 27 Jul 1927; Appointed Brevet Major.
• 22 Sep 1929; Captain and Brevet Major R.E. Balders to be Major.
• As of 31 May 1930; holding appointment of OC "B" Company.
• 12 Dec 1930; Retired from the Permanent Active Militia, having been pronounced unfit for further service, ans i placed on the Retired List.

M.C. Citation: SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 1 FEBRUARY, 1919; 31 January 1919, Issue number: 31158, Page number: 1705

Capt. Ralph Edward Balders, Royal Canadian Reg., Nova Scotia Reg. - For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during an attack on Bois de Gart on 26th August, 1918. When the attack was held up he went through intense enemy fire to the front line to ascertain the situation, and returned to battalion headquarters with information causing the reserve company to be sent to fill a gap in time to meet an enemy counter-attack. On 28th, in answer to an urgent call for reinforcements, he saved a critical situation with his two companies on Artillery Hill, where the enemy was heavily attacking. He did excellent work.

The Connecting File, Vol X, No. 1, January 1931

"To Major R.E. Balders, M.C., and Mrs Balders, we offerour very best hope for many years of enjoyment of life. Major Balders has been an outstanding personality in the Regiment for so long and is so markedly the best type of the sound and efficient regimental officer, that his retirement will be a distinct loss. His rich sense of humour, his gift of impropmtu repartee, and his cheery laugh made him a favorite in the Mess and everywhere he went. The Regiment will not forget him, and we know he will not forget the Regiment. Good-bye and the very best of luck."

The Connecting File, Vol XI, No. 1, February 1932

"Another bright spot in the wilderness. Major and Mrs R.E. Balders paid us [i.e., "D" Company, St John's P.Q.] a visit during their stay in Montreal. Ho different he looks now that he no longer carries the worries of Companies and Schools on his shoulders. Farming on the North West Arm [i.e. an extension of Halifax Harbour] apparently agrees with him."

Date of Birth - 30 Oct 1888