John Reginald Ball

This story is shared with the Trust with kind permission from Mavis Williams, Researcher. Gravestone photo source: Bob the Greenacre Cat, FindaGrave

John Reginald Ball was born in Ledbury on the 26th June 1921. He was the second son of James and Elizabeth Ball. We see a James Ball living at Bye Street, Ledbury Rural, Herefordshire, England on the 1921 census, which was taken on the 19th of June 1921. However, his wife is named as Lily Ball. Was Lily’s name, correct? Although James Henry would have filled in the census paper, did she prefer to be called Lily rather than Elizabeth Jane? We will probably never find out, but I think this is the correct family as it was the only one I found with the family living in Ledbury in 1921 and two names matched.

We next see the family on the 1939 National Register, which was taken on the 29th of September 1939, now living at 11, Bushell Road, Newton Abbot, Devon. James H. Ball was a Motor Driver (Ambulance), and was a member of the A.R.P. Elizabeth Jane Ball was doing ‘Unpaid Domestic Duties.’ Their two sons were working. Sidney J. Ball was a Builder’s Labourer and John R. Ball was an Engine Cleaner for the Great Western Railway (G.W.R.) There was a redacted or closed record, who I believe, was a possible sister.

Both brothers were what you could call characters. Sidney had joined the Royal Artillery in 1937 but was dismisssed for stealing a motor car with two others in February 1938. Sidney had been charged with a smiliar offence the year before and would have been imprisoned this time. However, he had just received a warrant to proceed to Exter to join the Royal Tank Corps so instead he was given a fine.

John also got in trouble with the police. The Railway Employment Records, 1833-1956 for the GWR showed that he had worked for the company since 1937 where he started off as a Greaser, then an Engine Cleaner in 1938, then in 1940 a Fireman. But he was dismissed on the 16th of January 1943 at Newton Abbot due to the fact he had been "Brought before Magistrates & sentenced to twelve months imprisonment for theft."

Articles in the Western Morning News tells us the story behind his dismissal.  The first article, on the 19th January 1943, reported that he and William Smale had been "remanded in custody until Thursday by Teignmouth magistrates yesterday on a charge of loitering with intent to commit a felony at Teignmouth on Saturday night." A month later their case was heard at the Devon Quarter Session.

John Ball and William Smale were accused of attempting to break in and enter the shop of Frederick Hole in Teignmouth on the 16th January. Whilst William Smale pleaded not guilty, John Ball pleaded guilty and asked for eleven other cases to be taken into consideration. He was sentenced to twelve months imprisonment. William Smale was found guilty and sentenced to six month imprisonment.

John Reginald Ball was to either enlist or was conscripted at some point instead of, or after, his prison sentence of February 1943, as he was to find himself in the 2nd Battalion, Devonshire Regiment on D-Day. They landed on Gold Beach but he was killed at some point that day and was first buried in Asnelles-sur-Mer, probably where he fell, but was reburied on the 3rd of November 1944 at Bayeux British Cemetery where he now lies.

Both brothers were characters and very much loved by their family as can be seen from the Inscription that they put on the CWGC gravestone for John Reginald.

HEARTS THAT LOVE YOU NEVER FORGET, IN OUR MEMORY YOU ARE LIVING YET.

John Ball is commemorated on the Newton Abbot war memorial.

I believe that Sidney was to survive the war, and he was to die in the September quarter of 1988, aged 69 years at Darlington, County Durham. I found a death recorded there for a Sidney J. Ball, born on the 29th of August 1919, which I am presuming this was him.

British Normandy Memorial - Additional Information

Unfortunately, we do not have a photo of John Ball. If you are aware of one, or you are related to John, we would love to hear from you so we can add to his story.