James Ball
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
James Ball was born in 1879 at Walton on Thames he was the son of Joseph Ball and the late Eliza Ball née Ainger of Fair View, Daisy Road, Mapperley, Nottingham;
His father Joseph was born in 1851 at Huntigton, his mother Eliza Ann Ainger was born in 1850 at Teddington,Middlesex, she died in 1906 aged 56 yrs they were married on 6th July 1873 at St George Church Camberwell.
He married Fanny Head in 1907 at Windsor, they lived at 41, Nova Rd., West Croydon, Surrey.
His probate was proven (with will) at London on 4th April 1918 and shows him as James Ball of 41 Nova Road, West Croydon , Surrey, Captain Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry M.C died 23rd January 1918 at The Prince of Wales Hospital Marylebone, Middlesex his effects of £368 13 shillings and 1 pence were left to Fanny Ball widow.
Captain Jas Ball served originally with the Grenadier Guards where he was promoted to drill Sergeant, he was transferred on promotion in October 1914 to Second Lieutenant in 3rd battalion Royal Fusiliers where he was awarded the Military Cross on 25th April 1915, he was later transferred to the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry where he was promoted to Captain in November 1916. . He is buried at Brookwood Cemetery (grave ref Vl.A.3)
His Military Cross citation was published in the 'London Gazette' on 3rd July 1915:“
Second Lieutenant James Ball, 3rd Battalion, The Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment).“Did specially good work on 25th April, 1915, near Ypres, in holding on to the left trench, and occupying a portion of the trenches evacuated by other troops. He was the only officer left alive in his trench, and took effective command of the situation.”
Article in the Nottingham Evening Post dated 25th January 1918 reads :-
“CAPT. J. BALL, M.C. “Capt James Ball, eldest son Mr. and Mrs. J. Ball, Fair View, Daisy-road, Mapperley, Nottingham, died in hospital on January 23rd. He received his commission in Royal Fusiliers in October, 1914, and later joined the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry. For a time he acted as adjutant, and was promoted captain in November, 1916. He was awarded the Military Cross for specially good work on April 25th, 1915, near Ypres, in holding on to the left trench and occupying a portion of the trenches evacuated by other troops. He was the only officer left alive in his trench, and took effective command of the situation.
Above article courtesy of Jim Grundy and facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918
Photo of James Ball
Brookwood Military Cemetery, courtesy of the cwgc