BALL, George
| Service Number: | 881 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 18 August 1914, An original member of H Company |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | 7th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | St Petersburg, Russia, 1892 |
| Home Town: | Rutherglen, Indigo, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Clerk |
| Died: | Killed in action, Gueudecourt, France, 5 November 1916 |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, Picardie, France |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Rutherglen War Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 18 Aug 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 881, 7th Infantry Battalion, An original member of H Company | |
|---|---|---|
| 19 Oct 1914: | Involvement Private, 881, 7th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '9' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Hororata embarkation_ship_number: A20 public_note: '' | |
| 19 Oct 1914: | Embarked Private, 881, 7th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Hororata, Melbourne | |
| 5 Nov 1916: | Involvement Sergeant, 881, 7th Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 881 awm_unit: 7 Battalion awm_rank: Sergeant awm_died_date: 1916-11-05 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
George Ball was by all accounts an exceptionally brave man. He was three times decorated, twice with the DCM, an award just under the Victoria Cross in gallantry ranking.
George Ball was born in St Petersburg, Russia to British parents. Little is known of his early life. In August 1911 he migrated alone to Australia, arriving in Melbourne on the German ship Seydlitz, and from 1912 until the outbreak of World War I worked as a vigneron's clerk for England Brothers winery, Rutherglen, Victoria.
He was one of Australia’s first volunteers, enlisting during August 1914 and was an original member of the 7th Battalion. He gave his next of kin as his brother, Victor Ball, Government Employee, St Petersburg, Russia.
Ball took part in the Anzac Landing on 25 April 1915 where he was wounded during the landing. It was described as a gunshot wound to the left shoulder. He rejoined his battalion on 26 May 1915 and in its next major engagement, the battle for Lone Pine, he won the Distinguished Conduct Medal for 'conspicuous gallantry'. On 6 August, after all the officers and non-commissioned officers in his party had been killed or wounded, he 'took command … in an isolated post, and held the enemy in check until reorganization had been effected'. A few days later he was promoted temporary Corporal and, apart from a rest period spent with his battalion at Mudros, remained at Gallipoli until the evacuation on 20 December 1915. Ball was confirmed as Corporal on 4 December 1915.
The 7th Battalion sailed for France during March 1916. During July and August the battalion took part in the battles for Pozières, suffering heavy casualties. They were then sent to the Ypres sector, a quiet posting, and on the night of 30 September they raided enemy trenches near Hollebeke. Ball, a temporary Sergeant, led one section of the raiding party along the German defences, 'himself killing five or six of the enemy and displaying great courage and initiative'. For his role in this raid, he was awarded a Bar to his D.C.M. He was also mentioned in despatches. Five weeks later, on 5 November, he was killed by a shell near Gueudecourt on the Somme battlefield.
Relatively tall, Ball was 5 feet ten inches tall and about 10 stone in weight. He was described as 'all muscle and bone'. Ball was described by the 7th Battalion historian as one of the unit's 'most fearless and resolute' soldiers. Always called 'the Russian', in spite of his excellent command of English, he was as formidable an adversary in the boxing stadium at Mena Camp as in the trenches. Away from the battlefield he took great delight in entertaining with his mandolin, which was frequently raffled to pay his debts from crown and anchor and later bought back when winnings permitted. Ball has no known grave but his name is commemorated on the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, France.
His brother in Russia could not be located after his death. He left a will in favour of Violet Hicks of Rutherglen, Victoria. Violet received all of his personal effects and was also sent George Ball’s medals, decorations and other entitlements under bond.