Pte
Charles Albert Ballard
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 04/12/1894 |
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Place of birth: Morden, Merton, Greater London, England, United Kingdom |
General information
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Profession: Farmer |
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Religion: Church of England |
Army information
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Country: Canada |
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Force: Canadian Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Private |
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Service number: 106073 |
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Enlistment date: 01/12/1914 |
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Enlistment place: Brandon, Manitoba, Canada |
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Units: — Canadian Mounted Rifles, 1st Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 05/06/1916 |
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Place of death: Sanctuary Wood, Zillebeke, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 21 |
Cemetery
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Tyne Cot Cemetery Plot: LIX Row: E Grave: 6 |
Points of interest 3
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Enlistment place | ||
| #3 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Charles Albert Ballard was born on December 4, 1894, in Morden, in what is now Greater London. Before World War I, he had moved to Canada and worked as a farmer. On December 1, 1914, he had walked into a recruitment depot in Brandon, Manitoba. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, Canadian Mounted Rifles. In September 1915, he had arrived in France for front-line service.
Charles Albert Ballard was killed in action at the age of 21 on June 2, 1916, during the opening phase of the Battle of Mont Sorrel.
In May and June 1916, the men of the 1st Battalion, Canadian Mounted Rifles had been positioned in the Ypres sector. On the night of May 31 to June 1, they had relieved the troops of the 58th Battalion, Canadian Infantry at the lines near Sanctuary Wood. On June 2, all hell broke loose. At 8:30 a.m., the Germans had begun a heavy bombardment and detonated a mine beneath the lines of the 4th Battalion, Mounted Rifles. Then, the Germans had launched their attack, striking the 1st Battalion on the right flank. Colonel Shaw had tried to halt the advancing Germans with 80 others. After Colonel Shaw’s death, Major Palmer had taken over command. The position had been held until only two officers and eight soldiers remained. The survivors had eventually received orders to withdraw. Once they had retreated, they found themselves in a position defended by a handful of troops. Ultimately, the remaining troops were relieved.
In the following days, the remaining soldiers had been moved back to Camp A near Zillebeke. On June 5, they had received orders to return to Steenvoorde the next day. Of the 692 troops who had gone to the front line, only 135 returned. The other 557 had been killed, wounded, or were missing.
On that same June 5, Charles Albert Ballard was declared killed in action, after initially being reported as missing. His body was found in Sanctuary Wood after the war and was reburied at Tyne Cot Cemetery, Plot LIX, Row E, Grave 6.
Charles Albert Ballard was killed in action at the age of 21 on June 2, 1916, during the opening phase of the Battle of Mont Sorrel.
In May and June 1916, the men of the 1st Battalion, Canadian Mounted Rifles had been positioned in the Ypres sector. On the night of May 31 to June 1, they had relieved the troops of the 58th Battalion, Canadian Infantry at the lines near Sanctuary Wood. On June 2, all hell broke loose. At 8:30 a.m., the Germans had begun a heavy bombardment and detonated a mine beneath the lines of the 4th Battalion, Mounted Rifles. Then, the Germans had launched their attack, striking the 1st Battalion on the right flank. Colonel Shaw had tried to halt the advancing Germans with 80 others. After Colonel Shaw’s death, Major Palmer had taken over command. The position had been held until only two officers and eight soldiers remained. The survivors had eventually received orders to withdraw. Once they had retreated, they found themselves in a position defended by a handful of troops. Ultimately, the remaining troops were relieved.
In the following days, the remaining soldiers had been moved back to Camp A near Zillebeke. On June 5, they had received orders to return to Steenvoorde the next day. Of the 692 troops who had gone to the front line, only 135 returned. The other 557 had been killed, wounded, or were missing.
On that same June 5, Charles Albert Ballard was declared killed in action, after initially being reported as missing. His body was found in Sanctuary Wood after the war and was reburied at Tyne Cot Cemetery, Plot LIX, Row E, Grave 6.
Sources 2
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Personnel Records of the First World War (Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa (LAC) RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 398 - 34) https://recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/home/index Sources used |
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War diaries: 1st Canadian Mounted Rifles Battalion (Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa (LAC), RG9-III-D-3, Volume number: 4944, Microfilm reel number: T-10751--T-10752, File number: 454) https://library-archives.canada.ca/eng Sources used |
More information 4
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/461811 |
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The Canadian Virtual War Memorial https://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/memorials/canadian-virtual-war-memorial/detail/461811?Charles%20Albert%20Ballard |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=bc85e0ac-a5dc-4bde-ba50-e11e4736fd06 |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/5556927 |