Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

C D HALCOMB M.B.

The death on February 9 at the age of 87 of Dr. C Digby Halcomb removed one of Doncaster's oldest practitioners, who retired from general practice only in recent times. Charles Digby Halcomb was born on April 16, 1875, son of F Halcomb of Adelaide, Australia. He graduated M.B. from Sydney University in 1902, and then practised for a short time near Sydney before joining the R.A.M.C. as medical officer to the East Lancashire Regiment. He served in Gallipoli along with Dr. Warwick Deeping and was on the last boat to be evacuated from there. After a short post-war spell at Slough he settled in general practice in Doncaster. His lithe, erect figure was well known in the town, though his practice was never a large one. He not only have his patients unstinted time and thought, he also enjoyed talking to them and helping with their problems, and they in turn appreciated his great charm an humour. A fine athlete in his day, he was tennis champion of South Australia at the age of 20 and was second in the men's doubles at Wimbeldon in 1912. A more perfect example of the traditional English family doctor it would be difficult to find, and general practice cannot have too many men of such rare character. He leaves a widow, a son, daughter and grandchildren, to all of whom our sympathy goes. R.W.L.W.