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). John’s father died aged 54, on the 19th November 1895 in Anstey. John William was born in the April quarter of 1891 in Anstey, his siblings were Hannah, a shoe trade machinist, born in the July quarter of 1882 and baptised on the 24th September 1882 in St. Mary’s Church, Anstey, James Harry, a shoe trade pressman, born in the January quarter of 1885, Albert, born in the July quarter of 1887, Philip, born in the April quarter of 1889, Dinah Rumsby Melinda, born on the 12th March 1893 and Beatrice Caroline, born on the 27th June 1895, all his siblings were born in Anstey, in March 1901 the family home was at Bradgate Road, Anstey.
In April 1911 John was employed as a shoe trade riveter and was residing in the family home at Church Lane, Anstey, together with his widowed mother and siblings, Dinah, a shoe trade machinist and Beatrice, a shoe trade machinist.
John 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, Emma Eliza, born on the 19th March 1878 in Anstey and baptised on the 22nd September 1878 in St. Mary’s Church, Anstey, Nelly, born on the 20th March 1880 in Anstey and baptised on the 21st November 1880 in St. Mary’s Church, Anstey.
On the 25th May 1912, John married Ethel Jane Bowler in St. Mary’s Church, Anstey, Ethel was born on the 25th December 1893 in Thurcaston, Leicestershire and baptised on the 21st January 1894 in All Saint’s Church, Thurcaston (daughter of Thomas Henry Bowler, 1855 and Maria Leake, 1864). They had three children, James Henry, born on the 13th October 1912 and baptised on the 2nd July 1916 in St. Mary’s Church, Anstey, Philip, born on the 8th March 1914 and baptised on the 2nd July 1916 in St. Mary’s Church, Anstey and Irene Sanctuary, born on the 11th October 1915 and baptised on the 2nd July 1916 in St. Mary’s Church, Anstey, all the children were born in Anstey. On the 31st March 1918, John’s widow married James Archibald Challoner, in the Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire district, James, a discharged soldier was born on the 12th June 1890 in Ratby, Leicestershire, they resided at 22, Church Lane, Anstey. John’s brother Philip also fell.
John’s youngest daughter Irene, who he would never have known as she was born just over three months after he fell in action, has the middle name of “Sanctuary,” and though it may sound quite an unusual Christian name, its obvious significance was that her father lost his life in Sanctuary Wood, Zillebeke, Belgium and is buried in Sanctuary Wood Cemetery.
John enlisted into the 4th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment (Territorial Force) to serve an engagement of 4 years on the 6th August 1914 in Leicester. He gave his place of birth as Anstey, Leicestershire, his age as 22 years and his trade or calling as shoe hand, his present employer being Stead and Simpson of Rothley, Leicestershire. He gave his home address as Church Lane, Anstey and stated that he was married. He confirmed that he had served as a Special Reservist for 2 years and 340 days with the 3rd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment. He gave his wife, Ethel Ball of Church Lane, Anstey, Leicestershire as his next of kin. His medical examination recorded that he was 5-foot 7½ inches in height and he had a chest measurement of between 35 and 37 inches. His physical development was described as satisfactory, his vision was described as good. He gave his religion as Church of England. He was pronounced fit for Territorial service. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the Leicestershire Regiment as a Private, service number 2132 on the 6/8/14. Embodied service to commence on the 6/8/14. Embarked with the 1/4th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment to join the British Expeditionary Force in France on the 2/3/15. Landed at Le Havre, France on the 3/3/15. Appointed Lance Corporal, unpaid, in the field on the 2/4/15. Killed in action, in the field on the 3/7/15. A summary of his service records: Home Service, 6/8/14 – 1/3/15, 208 days. British Expeditionary Force, France, 2/3/15 – 3/7/15, 124 days. Total service 332 days. John’s widow was awarded a pension of 20 shillings and 6 pence for herself and her three children to commence on the 24th January 1916, this was increased on the 4th April 1917 to twenty-six shillings and three pence. John was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War and Victory medals. John’s surviving service documents are in a very poor condition, and much of the finer detail relating to the period of time that he spent in the army, is either illegible or missing, hence the sparse overall description of his military and personal family history.
The War Diary records: 3 July-15 - Very hot – wind gentle westerly. At 2.30am enemy shelled SANCTUARY WOOD and MAPLE COPSE for about 20 minutes but did no damage. At 6.00pm Commanding Officer visited trenches. Trenches 7 and 8 were shelled between 4.00 and 5.00pm the former being much damaged. Also, from 11.00am to 1.00pm and 1.30 to 3.00pm. Night was quiet. Casualties, other ranks 1 killed, 3 wounded.
On Thursday 8th July 1915, The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. “LEICESTERSHIRE AND THE WAR.” – LOCAL CASUALTIES. Mrs. Ball, Leicester-road, Anstey, received a notification yesterday morning that her son, Private JOHN BALL, of the Leicestershire Territorial’s, was killed in action in France last week.
On Monday 12th July 1915, The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. “LEICESTERSHIRE AND THE WAR.” – Mrs. Ball, of Church-lane, Anstey, has received from Captain Reg. A, Faire, commanding B Company, of the 4th Leicester’s, a letter assuring her of the sincerest sympathy of officers, N.C.O.’s and men of the company in the death of LANCE-CORP. BALL. “I cannot possibly tell you how much he will be missed in the company,” the captain wrote, “as he was a splendid fellow and very popular amongst his comrades.”
On Friday August 6th 1915, The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “ROLL OF HONOUR” – CASUALTIES AMONG TERRITORIALS. The following casualties in the 4th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment are reported from the Base under date 14th July: - KILLED. Ball, 2132, Lance Corporal J. Hilder, 1934, Private F.A. Jayes, 3032, Private A. Lines, 1885, Drummer E. H. Stevenson, 343, Lance Sergeant S.C. Wheeler, 2300, Private S. V. White, 2541, Private E.G.
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.