Albert Ball
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Albert Ball (junior) was born on 14th August 1896 at Lenton he was the son of Albert Ball (senior) a land agent born in 1864 at Lenton and Harriett Mary Page born in 1865 at Ockbrook, they were married on 19th July 1886 at Lenton Priory Church. They had 3 children, their other surviving children were Lois Beatrice born 1892 and Arthur Cyril born 1898. Albert Ball (senior) later Sir Albert Ball JP) was a land agent and alderman of the City of Nottingham. and Harriett Mary Ball née Page , He lived at 43 Lenton Road, The Park, Nottingham. In the 1911 census the family are living at 43 Lenton Road, The Park, Nottingham, Albert (senior) 47 yrs is a land agent, he is living with his wife Harriett Mary 46 yrs and their daughter Lois Beatrice 19 yrs , also living with the family are two servants.In the same 1911 census Albert Ball (junior) is a pupil at Trent College School, Long Eaton he is 14 years of age.
56th Sqdn. Formerly 7th (Robin Hood) Bn. Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment). Decorations: VC, DSO and 2 Bars, MC, Mentioned in Despatches. He is buried in Annoeullin Communal Cemetery and German Extension, Nord, France (grave 643).Citation (Victoria Cross). An extract from the "London Gazette" dated 8th June 1917, records the following, "For most conspicuous and consistent bravery from the 25th of April to the 6th of May, 1917, during which period Capt. Ball took part in twenty-six combats in the air and destroyed eleven hostile aeroplanes, drove down two out of control, and forced several others to land. In these combats Capt. Ball, flying alone, on one occasion fought six hostile machines, twice he fought five and once four. When leading two other British aeroplanes he attacked an enemy formation of eight. On each of these occasions he brought down at least one enemy. Several times his aeroplane was badly damaged, once so seriously that but for the most delicate handling his machine would have collapsed, as nearly all the control wires had been shot away. On returning with a damaged machine he had always to be restrained from immediately going out on another. In all, Capt. Ball has destroyed forty-three German aeroplanes and one balloon, and has always displayed most exceptional courage, determination and skill."
Albert's brother J A Ball served as a Second Lieutenant 10th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment.A memorial (bronze plaque) to Captain Ball was unveiled in the entrance hall of Nottingham High School (now Nottingham Boys' High School) on 12 July 1923: ‘To the ever glorious memory of Captain Albert Ball VC DSO MC Croix de Chevalier, Legion d’honneur, Russian Order of St George, an old pupil of this school from 1907 to 1910, who gave his life for King and Country in the Great War, 1914-1919’. Below the inscription is the High School crest and motto.He is commemorated on Trent College's memorial to former staff and students (WM55458) and the original battlefield cross is in the College chapel (WM55457).Albert Ball’s signed application dated 27 August 1913 to join the Nottingham Rowing Club has been kept in the Club's Minute Book, pinned to the page on which are recorded the minutes of the 1917 AGM. Ball was then a land agent and living at 43 Lenton Road, The Park. (Nottinghamshire Archives: DD/865/1/10, NRC Minute Book 1912-1919)Photographs of 21 members of the Nottingham Rowing Club who died in the war, including Albert Ball, are held in Nottinghamshire Archives (Ref. DD865/65/1-21)There is a memorial to Albert Ball in the grounds of Nottingham Castle (WM27446). Sculptor Henry Poole 1873-1928. Grade I listed.Albert Ball Memorial Homes, Sherwin Road/Church Street, Lenton (opposite the Lenton war memorial). Upgraded listing to II* (2017)
