Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Albert Edwin Ball, a Regular Soldier and his wife Helen (Ellen) Ball (nee Hanney, married in the 3rd quarter of 1887 in the Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire district), born 1866 in Aldershot, Hampshire. Albert Edwin Hanney was born in the 3rd quarter of 1888 in Glen Parva, South Wigston, Leicestershire, his siblings were, Philip, born 1891 and Joan, born 1894. Albert married Margery Nora Smith on the 3rd December 1910 in the Roman Catholic Church, Aldershot. Albert’s widow married Stephen Gee in the 1st quarter of 1918 in the Chelsea, Middlesex district.
NOTE: Research has failed to discover any census returns that relate to the family. Albert’s father, who was serving as a regular soldier with the 1st Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, would have been subject to postings that would take him to different locations in the United Kingdom as well as overseas and as a consequence there appears to be no available link to any census returns between Albert’s birth in 1888 in Glen Parva and his marriage on the 3rd December 1910 in Aldershot. Much of the information that has been obtained has been taken from his record of service.
Albert enlisted/attested into Regular Army on the 15th January 1907 in Shorncliffe, and was allotted the service number 8084. He gave his place of birth as Glen Parva, South Wigston, Leicestershire and age as 18 years 6 months. His marital status was given as unmarried and his trade or calling as none.
His medical examination took place in Shorncliffe on the 15th January 1907 and recorded his apparent age as 18 years, that he was 5 feet 5½ inches in height, weighed 123 lbs, had a chest measurement of between 34 and 36 inches, his complexion was described as sallow, he had hazel eyes and his hair colour was brown, his physical development was described as good. The following distinctive marks were noted, linear deep scar 4 inches long along inner side of right palm. He gave his religion as Roman Catholic.
He gave his next of kin as his father, C.Q.M.S. Ball, 1st Bn. Leicestershire Regiment, mother, Helen Ball, younger brother, Philip Ball and younger sister, Joan Ball of Shorncliffe. Wife, 44, Queen’s Road, Aldershot.
During his period of military service the following events of note occurred:-
Joined. At Shorncliffe. 15/1/07.
Posted. 1st Bn. Leicestershire Regt. Aldershot. Pte. 15/1/07.
Awarded. 3rd Class Certificate of Army Education. 8/2/07.
Awarded. 2nd Class Certificate of Army Education. 24/4/07.
Appointed. Unpaid Lance Corporal. 10/9/07.
Granted. Pay of rank vice Cook. 20/9/08.
Awarded. Acting Schoolmasters Certificate. 3/09.
Promoted. Corporal vice Cummins. 25/5/10.
Awarded. Physical Training Certificate. Aldershot. 27/5/10.
Additional. Qualification Swimming (Special) Awarded Bronze Medal. 27/5/10.
Posted. 2nd Bn. Leicestershire Regt. Cpl. 7/12/10.
SS Plessy.
Belgaum. 30/12/10 – 5/3/11.
Bellary. 6/3/11 – 3/2/13.
Passed all subjects for 1st Class Certificate of Army Education except English History. 23/7/12.
Appointed. Paid Lance Sergeant vice Cook. 9/1/13.
Bareilly. 4/2/13 – 14/3/13.
Ranikhet. 19/3/13.
Awarded. 1st Class Certificate of Army Education. 27/3/13.
Awarded. Acting Schoolmasters Certificate. 3/13.
Appointed. Acting Schoolmaster Lance Sergeant with effect from and borne supernumerary to establishment. 1/9/13.
Promoted. Sergeant vice Higgs and borne supernumerary to establishment. 11/11/13.
Transferred to Section “B” Army Reserve with permission to reside in India. (Authority General Officer Commanding Bareilly Brigade No. 2689/1A d/2/3/14). 1/4/14.
Recalled to Army Service under Army Department Notification No.739 d/20/8/14. 24/8/14.
Died from gangrene of the leg. 20/10/14.
Summary of Service.
Home Service. 15/1/07 – 6/12/10. 3 years 326 days.
India. 7/12/10 – 20/10/14. 3 years 318 days.
Total Service. 7 years 279 days.
He was awarded the 1914 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Albert’s surviving service record amounts to a total of eighteen pages, of which only nine pages relate directly to his military service, and these are in very poor condition with much of the hand written information in some cases barely legible, damaged or missing entirely, however the content does offer at least a little descriptive insight into some of the events that took place during his period of military service.