Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of James Balls (Ball) a carpenter, born in the January quarter of 1842 in Laxfield, Suffolk (son of Phillip Ball, 1812-1891 and Dinah Rumsby Last, 1811-1897), and his wife Priscilla Ball (nee Black, married on the 28th December 1874 in St. Mary’s Church, Anstey, Leicestershire), a shoe trade machinist, born in the July quarter of 1851 in Anstey and baptised on the 15th December 1851 in St. Mary’s Church, Anstey (daughter of William Black, 1814-1889 and Jane Richards, 1817-1896). Philip was born in the April quarter of 1889 in Anstey, his siblings were, Emma Eliza, a schoolgirl, born on the 19th March 1878 and baptised on the 22nd September 1878 in St. Mary’s Church, Anstey, James Harry, a schoolboy, born in the January quarter of 1885, Albert, born in the July quarter of 1887 and Philip’s twin, Mary Ann, born in the April quarter of 1889, all his siblings were born in Anstey, in April 1891 the family home was at Main Street, Anstey. Philip’s father died aged 54, on the 19th November 1895 in Anstey. In March 1901 Philip was residing in the family home at Bradgate Road, Anstey, together with his widowed mother and siblings, Hannah, a shoe trade machinist, born in the July quarter of 1882 in Anstey and baptised on the 24th September 1882 in St. Mary’s Church, Anstey, James, a shoe trade pressman, Albert, Dinah Rumsby Melinda, born on the 12th March 1893 and Beatrice Caroline, born on the 27th June 1895, the latter two siblings were both born in Anstey, in March 1901 the family home was at Bradgate Road, Anstey. In April 1911 Philip was absent from the family home at Church Lane, Anstey, Leicestershire, residing there was his widowed mother and siblings, John a shoe trade riveter, Dinah, a shoe trade machinist and Beatrice, a shoe trade machinist, meanwhile, Philip was a serving soldier and was stationed at Wellington Lines, Aldershot, Hampshire. Philip also had the following siblings, Ann Eliza Black, born in the April quarter of 1872 in Anstey and baptised on the 12th May 1872 in St. Mary’s Church, Anstey and who died, aged 5 years in the October quarter of 1877 in Anstey, James Philip, born in the April quarter of 1875 in Anstey and baptised on the 13th June 1875 in St. Mary’s Church, Anstey and who died, aged 1 year, in the July quarter of 1876 in Anstey, Mary Ann, born in the July quarter of 1876 in Anstey and Nelly, born on the 20th March 1880 in Anstey and baptised on the 21st November 1880 in St. Mary’s Church, Anstey. Philip’s younger brother John, fell in action on the 3rd July 1915.
Philip had married whilst a serving soldier, his wife Margaret resided at Ballycotton, Ballispittle, Kinsale, Co. Cork, Ireland, Margaret was born on the 14th October 1885, however little is known of her family background, however Philip nominated her as his sole legatee in the event of his death, and on the 29th June 1916, she was awarded a weekly Army Dependant’s Pension of eleven shillings for herself and a children’s allowance for one child under 16 years of age, of five shillings, to commence on the 17th July 1916
The War Diary records: 21 Dec-15 - Shelling continued all night 20th/21st till almost 7.00am when wind changed and went round to “SAFE” Germans at once stopped shelling. (Probably the Germans had intended giving us another gas attack after the bombardment had the wind held). Remainder of the 21st December was pretty quiet. Gunners estimate that Germans fired 400,000 shells into 6th Division area alone during the bombardment. These numbers of course included the batteries etc. in 6th Division area. Points to be noted re gas were (1) Gas very deadly. (2) Slightest defect in tube helmet is fatal – or almost fatal. (3) No time to be lost in putting helmets on. Two to five minutes was sufficient to kill a man who had lost his helmet. As the gas attack was expected (though date was unknown) all our bomb and listening posts in front line of trenches had been supplied with extra helmets so that one man could always wear a helmet. This precaution was needed because the gas travelled at such speed that men were almost overpowered at once. In fact, men in the front line were about gassed before helmets could be got on so quick did the gas travel. Casualties’ 2nd Lieutenant S. HUBBARD sick, 16 suffering from gas, 4 sick. Total Casualties 18th to the 21st “A” Company 3 killed, 6 died of gas, 4 wounded, 53 suffering from gas. 3 sick. “B” Company 9 wounded, 19 suffering from gas, 1 sick. “C” Company 6 killed, 1 died of gas, 4 wounded, 6 suffering from gas, 1 sick, 3 missing. “D” Company 2 wounded, 10 suffering from gas, 2 missing.
On Saturday, November 20th, 1915, The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. “LEICESTERSHIRE AND THE WAR.” – LOCAL CASUALTIES. – Mrs. H. Foote, of Leicester-road, Anstey, has been notified that her husband, Lance-Corporal C. R. FOOTE, of the 9th Battalion Leicester Regt., has been wounded by a piece of shell in the left shoulder, and is now in Torquay Hospital. Mrs. Foote has had a brother killed serving with the 4th Leicester’s, Lance-Corporal G. W. Ball, and another brother is Sergeant P. Ball, now with the 1st Leicester’s. Four brothers-in-law and a nephew are also with the colours.