Thomas Ball
- Family History
- Military History
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Thomas Ball was born on 29th June 1892 at Alfreton,, he was the son of John a coal miner hewer and Ellen Ball née Lloyd of 49 Alexandra Street, East Kirkby. John was born in 1856 at East Kirkby, he died in 1918 aged 62 yrs, Ellen Lloyd was born in 1866 at Willenhall, Staffordshire, she died in 1906 aged 39 yrs at Chesterfield, they were married in 1885 their marriage was recorded in the Basford registration district. In the 1911 census he is living at 2 Victoria Street, Alfreton, he is a boarder 20 yrs and a coal miner hewer, he is living with William England 54 yrs a coal miner hewer and his family. In the same 1911 census his widowed father John is living at 49 Alexandra Street, East Kirkby John 55 yrs born Pinxton is a coal miner hewer, he is living with his 3 children, Charles 23 yrs born Radford, Herert 21 yrs born Radford and Lucy 17 yrs born Somercoates.
Portsmouth Bn RND, Royal Marine Light Infantry ex-15987 Private, Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment).Thomas transferred to the Royal Marine Light Infantry (short-service) from the Sherwood Foresters on 16 September 1914. He served in the Portsmouth Battalion RND with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force from 28 February 1915. The battalion landed in Gallipoli on 28 April 1918.Thomas Ball died of wounds on a hospital ship on 2 May 1915. He was buried at sea and is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial (9).63rd Royal Naval Division: The Division was formed on the declaration of war, and comprised two Naval Brigades and a Brigade of Marines for operations on land. The RM Brigade was formed first and men were drawn from the Royal Marine Light Infantry and Royal Marine Artillery (regular and Fleet Reserve) and comprised four battalions named for the major naval depot ports from which the men were drawn: Chatham, Deal, Plymouth and Portsmouth. However, the battalions were soon supplemented by recruits transferred from infantry units (see below). In September 1914 the RM Brigade, followed by the RN Brigades in early October, were deployed to assist in the defence of Antwerp (4-10 October). Those units that successfully withdrew from Antwerp had returned to England by 11 October. After refitting and training, the Division embarked for Gallipoli via Malta and Lemnos. The Portsmouth Battalion (Gloucester Castle) arrived at Lemnos on 11 March. After various manoeuvres, the Battalion eventually disembarked from Gloucester Castle at Gaba Tepe on 28 April.Ball was one of 'Kitchener's Marines' who were transferred from the Sherwood Foresters to the RMLI. Des Turner notes '600 RMLI transfers came from 2 regiments - 200 from the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (KOYLI) and 400 from the Sherwood Foresters. They were predominantly ex-miners and labourers, fit men wanted for their ability to dig trenches and tunnels. The 200 KOYLI recruits were transferred to Plymouth Division RMLI and were given service numbers PLY/1(S) to PLY200(S). This was also the case for the Sherwood Foresters 200 who were dispatched to Portsmouth where already 30 men were recruited and so they became PO/31(S) to PO/230(S). 200 remaining Foresters went to Chatham and were numbered CH/1 to CH/200(S).'
Mansfield Reporter, 11 August 1916: ‘Kirkby in Ashfield. Memorial Service. A most impressive memorial service in memory of the East Kirkby men who have given their lives in the war was held in St Thomas’s Church on Sunday afternoon. A procession was formed at the four-road ends and marched to the church headed by the Kirkby Old Prize Band. There was a large number in the processions with included the Vicar (the Rev. FC Hodges) ... the surpliced choir, old, discharged and present soldiers … Seats were reserved in Church for the relatives of the men whose memory was being honoured and several beautiful wreaths were displayed. A special form of service was used and the lesson was read by the Rev TR Aaty (Primitive Methodist minister). The Vicar gave an address which admirably blended homage to the dead heroes, consolation to the relatives and exhortation to those left at home .. at the close a collection was taken p for a memorial window in the church. The following is a list of fallen ... Thomas Ball.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
