James Ball

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