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William Henry Ball
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 07/09/1883 |
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Place of birth: Hull, Kingston upon Hull, England, United Kingdom |
General information
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Last known residence: 9 Wassand Street, Hull, Kingston upon Hull, England, United Kingdom |
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Profession: Dock Labourer |
Army information
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Country: England, United Kingdom |
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Force: British Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Private |
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Service number: 202879 |
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Enlistment place: Beverley, Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom |
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Units: — Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), 1st Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 27/09/1917 |
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Place of death: Gheluvelt Wood, Geluveld, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 34 |
Cemetery
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Tyne Cot Cemetery Plot: XLVIII Row: C Grave: 6 |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 4
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Last known residence | ||
| #3 | Enlistment place | ||
| #4 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
William Henry Ball was born on 7 September 1883 in Hull. He was the son of William Ball and Ellen Roach. Before the First World War, he worked in the Hull fish docks as a dock worker. On 17 February 1904, he married Harriet Ball. Together, they had five children: sons William Henry (1904), George Edward (1907), Joseph (1908), and Albert (1916), and daughter Elizabeth Ellen (1908). During the First World War, he enlisted in the British Army. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles).
In September 1917, the men of the 1st Battalion, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), were in the region around Ypres. The Battle of Passchendaele had been ongoing for over a month. Between 20 and 24 September, they were stationed at a camp near Westouter, but on the 24th, they were sent to dugouts at Bedford House to prepare for several days in the front line. On the 25th, they moved in the evening to reserve positions at Stirling Castle near Clapham Junction. Up until then, things remained relatively quiet.
On 26 September, part of the men participated in active operations at the front. At 4 a.m., all companies were sent forward: A Company supported the 4th Battalion, the King’s (Liverpool Regiment), B Company reinforced and supported the 2nd Battalion, the Queen’s, and C and D Companies acted as reserve troops west of Inverness Copse. At 11 a.m., the men of B Company stormed a German strongpoint, during which four officers and sixteen other ranks were killed. Twenty-six Germans were captured. Around 6 p.m., a German counterattack formed but was unsuccessful. Around the same time, C and D Companies were sent to positions northwest of Inverness Copse. There, they established a fortified position astride the Menin Road. The following day, the various companies were withdrawn to Stirling Castle.
William Henry Ball was killed in action at the age of 34 on 27 September. He was reburied after the war in Tyne Cot Cemetery, Plot XLVIII, Row C, Grave 6.
In September 1917, the men of the 1st Battalion, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), were in the region around Ypres. The Battle of Passchendaele had been ongoing for over a month. Between 20 and 24 September, they were stationed at a camp near Westouter, but on the 24th, they were sent to dugouts at Bedford House to prepare for several days in the front line. On the 25th, they moved in the evening to reserve positions at Stirling Castle near Clapham Junction. Up until then, things remained relatively quiet.
On 26 September, part of the men participated in active operations at the front. At 4 a.m., all companies were sent forward: A Company supported the 4th Battalion, the King’s (Liverpool Regiment), B Company reinforced and supported the 2nd Battalion, the Queen’s, and C and D Companies acted as reserve troops west of Inverness Copse. At 11 a.m., the men of B Company stormed a German strongpoint, during which four officers and sixteen other ranks were killed. Twenty-six Germans were captured. Around 6 p.m., a German counterattack formed but was unsuccessful. Around the same time, C and D Companies were sent to positions northwest of Inverness Copse. There, they established a fortified position astride the Menin Road. The following day, the various companies were withdrawn to Stirling Castle.
William Henry Ball was killed in action at the age of 34 on 27 September. He was reburied after the war in Tyne Cot Cemetery, Plot XLVIII, Row C, Grave 6.
Sources 4
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1 Battalion Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) war diary (The National Archives, KEW (TNA), WO 95/2422/2). http://nationalarchives.gov.uk Sources used |
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Census Returns of England and Wales, 1891 (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), RG12). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911 (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), RG14). 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 2
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/461809 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=d35ffe8e-9d5d-4278-be8c-3ddc0ed7718b |