Oliver Herbert Ball
He was educated at Nottingham High School,he had entered the school on January 17th 1900, aged eight he served two years under the command of Captain Trotman in the OTC, Oliver was to leave in July 1907 and then continued his education at the University College, Nottingham. He was employed at the Nottingham head office of the Union of London and Smith’s Bank at the time he enlisted.
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
Oliver Herbert Ball was born on 13th August 1891 at Nottingham, he was the son of Albert Holmes Ball a laundry manager and Emma Ball née Woolley of ‘Sunnyside’ 7 Nelson Road, Daybrook.
His father Alfred Holmes was born in 1856 , his mother Emma Woolley was born in 1855 both were born in Nottingham, they were married on 9th September 1877 at Holy Trinity church Nottingham, they went on to have 9 children, sadly two were to die in infancy or early childhood.
In the 1911 census the family are living at Sunnyside 7 Nelson Road, Daybrook, Alfred Holmes 55 yrs is a laundry manager, he is living with his wife Emma 56 yrs and their children, Emma Georgina 32 yrs a clerk, Walter William 23 yrs a forman garment and dyer, Oliver Herbert a bank clerk, Mable Holmes 13 yrs a scholar, Percy Edward 10 yrs of age, also living with them is a female servant.
Second Liuetenant Oliver Herbert Ball originally enlisted and served as a bombardier in the Royal Garrison Artillery, he was commissioned as Second Lieuteneat into the Yorkshire Regiment.
On the 28th September 1916 the 10th Battalion Green Howards were in the trenches near Fricourt consolidating the ground they had recently gained. A few German shells fell on the positions on a continuous basis. At about 8pm the shelling became much heavier onto the front line positions and as a result a Captain W.R. Knott was wounded and 2nd Lieut Oliver H. Ball was killed by shrapnel and explosion
He was buried in the Guards Cemetery Lesboeufs, France (grave ref. VI. P. 10).
CWGC headstone personal inscription: 'Peace perfect peace'
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 6 & 7 October 1916: ‘Ball. Died of wounds, September 28th, Second-Lieut. Oliver H Ball, Yorkshire Regiment, dearly-loved third son of Alfred Holmes and Emma Ball, Sunnyside, Daybrook, aged 25.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Oliver Herbert Ball
Photograph courtesy of Cliff Housley
Oliver Herbert Ball
Commonwealth War Graves Commission headstone marking his grave at the Guards Cemetery, Lesboeufs. Photograph Murray Biddle.