Lance Corporal John Ball 2132

Soldier Factfile

Name: Lance Corporal John Ball 2132

Date of Birth: 1889

Address: 22, Church Lane, Anstey

Parents Names:

James Ball (Carpenter) d 1895

Priscilla (Shoe Trade Machinist)

Occupation before the war: Shoe Trade Hand at Stead & Simpson of Rothley.

Siblings Names:

Emma Eliza b 1878 | Mary Ann b 1889 ( Philip’s twin) | Hannah b 1882 |

Phillip b 1889 (Mary’s twin) | James Henry b 1885 | Dinah Rumsby M b 1893 |

Albert b 1887 | Beatrice Caroline b 1895

Date Died: 3.7.15

Age: 24

Place of Death: Sanctuary Wood

Place of Burial/Memorial: 1v T3 Sanctuary Wood Cemetery, Belgium

Cause of death: Killed in Action

Regiment:

1^st/4^th Batallion

Leicestershire Regiment

Medals:

1914-15 Star

British War medal

Victory Medal

Any other information (e.g. Service Record/ appearance etc)

John’s elder brother Phillip also fell.
Enlisted into the 3th Battalion Regiment (Territorial Force) to serve for 4 years on 6^th August 1914 in Leicester.
Confirmed that he had served as a Special Reservist for 2 years and 340 days with the 3^rd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment.
Next of kin Ethel Ball nee Bowler, whom he married in1912. She was known as Challoner on the Commenoration certificate.
John had 3 children: James H born1912; Philip born1914 and Irene S born 1915.
Irene was born 3 months after John’s death and as he died at Sanctuary Wood, she was named Irene Sanctuary in his memory.
Records show John was were originally buried in a smaller or isolated cemetery and at a later date, was exhumed and reburied in a war cemetery. The concentration of cemeteries allowed otherwise unmaintainable graves to be moved into established war grave cemeteries where the Commission could ensure proper commemoration.
Records show he was identified by his Kaki and Titles.