Name
William Charles Ball
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
27/09/1918
26
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Second Lieutenant
Manchester Regiment
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
VIS-EN-ARTOIS MEMORIAL
Panel 9.
France
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour
Pre War
Son of Henry Charles and Florence (nee CHILD) BALL.
His parents married 1891 in the Hemel Hempstead, Herts, district. Florence died 1933 in Watford aged 63, and was buried 25 March in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford; Henry died 1944 in Watford aged 72, and was buried 23 June, also in Vicarage Road Cemetery.
William was born 15 or 18 October 1891 in Islington, London, and baptised 1 January 1892 at St Mary’s, Apsley End, Herts. He attended first Callow Land Infants’ School, Watford; then Callowland Board School from 9 January 1899 to 3 August 1905. He was possibly a junior goods porter with the London & North Western Railway Company.
On the 1901 Census, aged 9 he lived in Watford, with his parents and two siblings. On the 1911 Census, a plumber’s labourer aged 19, he still lived in Watford, with his parents and two siblings.
Wartime Service
He originally enlisted 3 March 1913 in London for 7 years with the Colours, 5 years in the Reserves: a plumber’s mate aged 21, 5’8″ tall, C of E; Private 4659 17th [or 16th] Lancers. He served at Home 3 March 1913 to 16 August 1914, and with the B.E.F. from 17 August 1914 to 9 November 1917, during which time he was: appointed unpaid Lance-Corporal 2 June 1915; transferred to the 3rd Squadron Machine Gun Corps 7 June 1916 Private 41581; appointed acting Corporal 19 September 1916; appointed unpaid Lance-Sergeant 9 May 1917; and promoted Sergeant 17 July 1917. He served at Home again from 10 November 1917 to 26 February 1918 when he was accepted for admission to No. 16 Officer Cadet Battalion. He was appointed to a permanent commission 22 March 1918, and posted to the 3rd Battalion Manchester Regiment. He was entitled to the 1914 Star medal, his qualifying date being 17 September 1914 [and probably the Victory and British War medals], and was killed in action.
Additional Information
There are articles about William in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 26 October 1918 and 9 November 1918.
Recorded as BALL H C in the Borough Roll of Honour.
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
