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John William Ball
Information about birth
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Year of birth: 1886 |
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Place of birth: Buntingford, Hertfordshire, Belgium |
General information
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Last known residence: Braughing, Hertfordshire, Belgium |
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Profession: Bricklayer |
Army information
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Country: England, United Kingdom |
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Force: British Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Serjeant |
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Service number: 26993 |
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Enlistment place: Hertford, Hertfordshire, England, United Kingdom |
Information about death
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Date of death: 16/12/1917 |
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Place of death: Vindictive Cross Roads, Passchendaele, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 31 |
Cemetery
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Tyne Cot Cemetery Plot: XXX Row: B Grave: 12 |
Points of interest 4
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Last known residence | ||
| #3 | Enlistment place | ||
| #4 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
John William Ball was born around 1886 in Buntingford, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom. He was the son of Harry and Hannah Ball. Before he enlisted, he worked as a bricklayer. On 9 April 1911, he married Rosetta Elizabeth Barley. Together, they had three children: daughters Muriel Gwendoline (1911) and Iris Violet (1913), and son Eric John (1914). During the First World War, John decided to enlist in the British Army. He was assigned to the 6th Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry.
By late 1917, the men of the 6th Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry, part of the 43rd Infantry Brigade, found themselves near Passchendaele. The Battle of Passchendaele was already over, but the frontline remained active. On 15 December, they were sent to the frontline to relieve the positions of the 42nd Infantry Brigade near Mosselmarkt. By 22:15, the relief was complete. A bombardment had caused five wounded. On 16 December, it snowed several times, and the lines were subjected to intermittent fire. As a result, there were four fatalities and four wounded. On 17 December, the lines came under heavy fire again. The next and final day in the frontline remained relatively calm. There was German artillery fire again, and one injured German soldier surrendered that day. During the night, the men of the battalion were relieved and sent to the rear. During their days on the frontline, several German aircraft flew over their trenches.
John William Ball was one of the four killed on 16 December. He was 31 years old. He was reburied after the war at Tyne Cot Cemetery, Plot XXX, Row B, Grave 12.
By late 1917, the men of the 6th Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry, part of the 43rd Infantry Brigade, found themselves near Passchendaele. The Battle of Passchendaele was already over, but the frontline remained active. On 15 December, they were sent to the frontline to relieve the positions of the 42nd Infantry Brigade near Mosselmarkt. By 22:15, the relief was complete. A bombardment had caused five wounded. On 16 December, it snowed several times, and the lines were subjected to intermittent fire. As a result, there were four fatalities and four wounded. On 17 December, the lines came under heavy fire again. The next and final day in the frontline remained relatively calm. There was German artillery fire again, and one injured German soldier surrendered that day. During the night, the men of the battalion were relieved and sent to the rear. During their days on the frontline, several German aircraft flew over their trenches.
John William Ball was one of the four killed on 16 December. He was 31 years old. He was reburied after the war at Tyne Cot Cemetery, Plot XXX, Row B, Grave 12.
Sources 5
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43 Infantry Brigade: 6 Battalion Somerset Light Infantry war diary, (The National Archives, KEW (TNA), WO 95/1909/3). http://nationalarchives.gov.uk Sources used |
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Census Returns of England and Wales, 1891 (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), RG12). http://Ancestry.com Sources used |
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Census Returns of England and Wales, 1901 (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), RG13). http://Ancestry.com Sources used |
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Essex, England, Church of England Marriages, 1754-1935, (Essex Record Office; Chelmsford, Essex, England) http://Ancestry.com Sources used |
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UK, Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919, His Majesty's Stationery Office (HMSO), 1921. http://Ancestry.com Sources used |
More information 3
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/157829 |
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/461807 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=07692e0e-de1f-43b7-9cb1-289e19b96058 |