Pte
Charles Albert Ballard
Information about birth
|
Date of birth: 04/12/1894 |
|
Place of birth: Morden, Merton, Greater London, England, United Kingdom |
General information
|
Profession: Farmer |
|
Religion: Church of England |
Army information
|
Country: Canada |
|
Force: Canadian Expeditionary Force |
|
Rank: Private |
|
Service number: 106073 |
|
Enlistment date: 01/12/1914 |
|
Enlistment place: Brandon, Manitoba, Canada |
|
Units: — Canadian Mounted Rifles, 1st Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
|
Date of death: 05/06/1916 |
|
Place of death: Sanctuary Wood, Zillebeke, Belgium |
|
Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
|
Age: 21 |
Cemetery
|
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 4 December 1894 in Morden, in present-day Greater London. Before 1914, he moved to Canada and became a farmer. On 1 December 1914, he walked into a recruitment depot in Brandon, Manitoba. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, Canadian Mounted Rifles. In September 1915, he arrived in France for front-line service.
In May and June 1916, the men of the 1st Battalion, Canadian Mounted Rifles were located in the sector near Ypres. During the night of 31 May to 1 June, they relieved the troops of the 58th Battalion, Canadian Infantry in the lines at Sanctuary Wood.
On 2 June, all hell broke loose. At 8:30 in the morning, the Germans began a heavy bombardment and detonated a mine under the lines of the 4th Battalion, Mounted Rifles. Subsequently, the Germans launched an attack. They targeted the 1st Battalion on its right flank. Colonel Shaw attempted to halt the advancing Germans together with 80 others. After Colonel Shaw's death, Major Palmer took over command. The position was held until only two officers and eight other ranks remained. The survivors were eventually ordered to retreat. Once they had fallen back, they occupied a position defended by a handful of troops. Eventually, the remaining troops were relieved.
In the following days, the remaining troops were returned to Camp A at Zillebeke. On 5 June, they received orders to return to Steenvoorde the next day.
On that same 5 June, Charles Albert Ballard was declared killed in action after initially being reported as missing. He was reburied after the war in Tyne Cot Cemetery, plot LIX, row E, grave 6.
In May and June 1916, the men of the 1st Battalion, Canadian Mounted Rifles were located in the sector near Ypres. During the night of 31 May to 1 June, they relieved the troops of the 58th Battalion, Canadian Infantry in the lines at Sanctuary Wood.
On 2 June, all hell broke loose. At 8:30 in the morning, the Germans began a heavy bombardment and detonated a mine under the lines of the 4th Battalion, Mounted Rifles. Subsequently, the Germans launched an attack. They targeted the 1st Battalion on its right flank. Colonel Shaw attempted to halt the advancing Germans together with 80 others. After Colonel Shaw's death, Major Palmer took over command. The position was held until only two officers and eight other ranks remained. The survivors were eventually ordered to retreat. Once they had fallen back, they occupied a position defended by a handful of troops. Eventually, the remaining troops were relieved.
In the following days, the remaining troops were returned to Camp A at Zillebeke. On 5 June, they received orders to return to Steenvoorde the next day.
On that same 5 June, Charles Albert Ballard was declared killed in action after initially being reported as missing. He was reburied after the war in Tyne Cot Cemetery, plot LIX, row E, grave 6.
Sources 2
|
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 |
|
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
|
Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/461811 |
|
The Canadian Virtual War Memorial https://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/memorials/canadian-virtual-war-memorial/detail/461811?Charles%20Albert%20Ballard |
|
Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=bc85e0ac-a5dc-4bde-ba50-e11e4736fd06 |
|
Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/5556927 |