|
|
|
PO. Joseph Ball . Royal Navy from Darlaston In honour of my father, Joseph Bell who passed away at the early age of 45 years. I have passed his medals on to my son. I recall one of them being a Burma Star and there were six or seven more, but even if there were no medals, he was our hero.
|
F/Lt Kenneth Rhodes Ball . Royal Air Force 9 Squadron (d.12th Aug 1941) F/Lt Kenneth Ball was serving as a pilot with 9 Squadron based at Honington in Suffolk. Wellington bomber WS-R 1513 was on a mission to Kiel on the night of 12th August 1941 and the aircraft crashed into the River Wesser. He was aged 22.
|
Cpl. Leslie Ball . British Army Royal Army Service Corps from Croydon My grandfather Leslie Ball fought in many places and I know very little about his life during the war period. Since my grandmother destroyed all of his papers, cards, medals etc. I would be interested in hearing from anyone, who may have known him. I know he fought in the two Battles of El Alamein and later went to Normandy. At some point he assisted in the attack on Italy and battled on a hill near a small village. He later was part of the liberation of Belsen Concentration camp. After the war he lived in Croydon and was a father to two children, my father and his brother.
|
ACW2. Margaret Ball . Womens Auxiliary Air Force 24 Operational Training Unit
|
Fire Warden Margery Gladys Ball . Auxiliary Fire Service Cobham, Surrey
|
Sgt. Reginald Ball . British Army Cameron Highlanders (Queens Own) My Granddad Reginald Ball was a Cameron Highlander, during WW2, Argyll in Korea. Lulu the Pig, Korea is mentioned in Mad Mitch book. Still trying to get information about his service.
|
Roy W. Ball . My uncle Roy W. Ball was a POW in Stalag 4B Muhlberg Sachsen.
|
Pte. Thomas Ball . British Army 5th Btn. Seaforth Highlanders from Fleetwood, Lancs Thomas Ball, my hero! He persuaded his mum to say that he was 16 years old so that he could join the Territorial Army, primarily so he could go to the army camp in Wales as they as a family could not afford holidays.
Shortly after his 'holiday' in Wales, war broke out and Dad was assigned to the Seaforth Highlanders. He was so very young when he went to war. His recollections of his time during the war were always very vivid to him and he would become very upset as he related stories about friends and comrades who had fallen.
I can recall my dad telling me that he drove a truck in the desert and he was at the front leading the convoy and he fell asleep at the wheel and went off the road and every other truck followed him! The gentleman who was with him in the truck (sorry, I don't know his name) realised that my father was exhausted and ordered him to have a sleep before continuing.
I have my Dad's cap badge and lots of photos which I treasure. I wish my Dad was around now to relate other stories to me which I would have loved to share with you all. Dad passed away in December 2013 aged 92. God bless him and all who fought for us.
|
Pte. William L. Ball . British Army The Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey) from Ashford, Middlesex (d.9th May 1945) My Uncle Bill Ball was a POW for most of the war at Stalag 8 and when he was liberated in 1945 he was killed in a plane crash on his way home.
|
William Ball . British Army West Surrey Queens Royal Regiment Stalag 8b
|
Sgt. William Ball . Royal Air Force 427 sqd (d.12th Feb 1943)
|
Pte. William Leonard Ball . British Army 1st Battalion Queens Royal Regiment (d.9th May 1945) William Ball was my uncle, who died in an aircrash in Lancaster RF230 JI-B just after take of in France along with 24 POWs and 6 aircrew. He is buried in Paris.
|
F/Sgt. Gordon Ballantine. . RNZAF 166 Sqd.
|
Donald Ballantyne . Royal Australian Air Force 50 Squadron from Perth, Western Australia My father was a member of 50 Squadren. I'm going through a few of huis things and have found some maps of bombing raids also a map of the U S. Maybe where they stayed while in service. Not quite sure what you are looking for so if you could tell me I will try to find out more. Thank you. Looking forward to hearing from you .
|
Fusilier Leonard Ballantyne . Army Royal Fusiliers My Grandfather, Leonard Ballantyne was one of the prisoners at Stalag 7a and also Stalag 344. He was captured on the 16/02/1944, ironically on his birthday, at Anzio. He was a Fusilier with the Royal Fusiliers. His prisoner of war number was 128717. According to information I have received from the Red Cross he arrived in Stalag 7a on 07.04.1944. He left Stalag 7a for Stalag 344 on 02.06.1944 and was present in Stalag 344 on the 06.06.1944 . He eventually managed to escape from Stalag 344 on his second attempt. At this point I do not have any more information. Since my grandfather passed away in 2000 I am having to trace his war through official records which is a very lengthy process. However I have found the Red Cross a surprising source of Prisoner of War information and through our National Archives am hoping to see his Escape and Evasion interview. If anyone has any further information, photos, stories, anything, it would be greatly appreciated.
|
Ldg.Tel. David Ballard . Royal Navy HMS Windsor from Aldershot, Hampshire David Ballard served in the Royal Navy in both WW1 and WW2 and his story up to his discharge in 1939 has been related in the WW1 section.
David was recalled to the Navy in 1939 and, on 3rd November, found himself aboard HMS Windsor, a destroyer. During Operation Dynamo, HMS Windsor sailed many times to France, Belgium and Holland, bringing back to England over 4,000 troops and the Dutch Government before receiving a direct hit from a bomb and subsequently being sent to Liverpool for a refit.
In May 1941, David was aboard the battleship King George V, sister-ship of the Prince of Wales, when both participated in the search for, and sinking of the Bismarck. He then spent six months at Signal School before receiving a posting to a Dutch submarine escort vessel, the Jan Van Gelder.
In 1945, David was 46 years of age and finished his war aboard a submarine depot ship.
David completed his 31 years in the Royal Navy in September 1945, as a Leading Telegraphist with three Good Conduct Stripes, 1914-15 Star, War Medal 1914-18, Victory Medal, 1939-45 Star, Atlantic Star, War Medal 1939-45 and the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal.
|
Ivy Edna "Vicki" Ballard . Womens Royal Naval Service My mother was Ivy Ballard, born in 1923. She enlisted in the WRNS and was stationed in India, maybe Ceylon. My father was from the U.S. was also stationed in India. This is where they met and married. All we know of my mother’s military career is what I’ve written here. We have no information on date of enlistment, service number, awards, rank, or date of discharge.
She and my dad were married on 6th of May 1945 and she came to this country after being discharged in 1946. His name was William G. MacKenzie. We have his records which show he was in Burma, so I would think she would have been around that area.
|
Jesse Ballard . Royal Air Force A Whitley bomber crashed into an oak tree on night time training in 1939 I was on guard walking around the perimeter of the airfield at the time and I pulled the rear gunner to safety, I think the rest of the crew perished in the blaze. They told me I would be commended for this I never heard anymore I would like to know who the rear gunner was & hear from anyone else who was there at that time.
|
Pte. Kenneth William Ballard . Canadian Army Canadian Seaforth Highlanders from Vancouver
|
Nora Ballard . Womens Land Army (d.1941 ) I am trying to find out details about a relative of mine, Norma Ballard, who served in the Land Army in WW2 and whilst serving died of pleurisy. I woudl love to find out details of her time in the land army, where she served etc. She was married in Pershore and had a daughter called Jean.
Editor's note:
Details of how to obtain information about service in the Women's Land Army are available on our Family History FAQ Page
|
Stanley Selwood Ballard . Royal Air Force No. 420 Repair and Salvage Unit from London Stanley Ballard served with No. 420 Repair and Salvage Unit. Really not too sure what he got up to, he kept things to himself, should anyone have some information it will be very much appreciated.
|
STO2 William Alfred Ballard . Royal Navy HMS Victory from 38 Cadogan Terrace, Hackney, London E 9
|
P/O. Robert E. Ballentine. . RCAF 434 Sqd (d.18th Mar 1944)
|
Percy George Baller . British Army 1st Btn. Welsh Guards (d.August 1944) Percy Baller was my uncle, my mother's half brother. I know very little about him but I have visited his grave in France. I know he was married to Tegwyn and possibly had a daughter. I was also told that his brother Harry also served in the Welsh Guards but I can find no record of this. I would like to know how Percy died, I have one photo of him. My mother was heartbroken when he was killed and would not speak of him at all. I was hoping that maybe someone would remember him.
|
L/Cpl. Frank Henry Eli Ballinger . British Army 48th Royal Tank Regiment Royal Armoured Corps from Cardiff, South Wales (d.11th May 1943) Frank Ballinger went to North Africa with 48th Royal Tank Regiment, RAC in November 1942. He was killed in action on 11 May, 1943 during the final offensive against the Axis force near Medjez-el-Bab, Tunisia. He is memorialized in the Medjez-el-Bab military cemetery SW of Tunis. Frank was killed just 17 days before his son, John Arthur, was born in Cardiff, South Wales.
The 48th RTR was the first unit to capture a German Tiger 131 tank near Medjez-el-Bab in April 1943. The Tiger was apparently abandoned by its crew after being hit three times by Churchill 8pdr shells. The Tiger is now on display at Bovington Tank Museum, Dorset.
|
Pte. Robert Ballinger . British Army 2nd Btn. Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) from York (d.2nd Jun 1940) Robert Ballinger died between 31st of May and 2nd of June 1940. He is buried at Middelkerke Communal Cemetery in Belgium.
|
Sgt William Stanley Ballinger . from Chepstow, Monmouthshire (d.13th Aug 1944) Avro Lancaster Mk1 ME617(SR-N) 101 Squadron (1 group) Ludford Magna
Billy as he was known to friends and family alike would have been my Uncle, one of 5 siblings. He was accepted by the RAFVR in March 1943 and reported to Lord's Cricket Ground on the 29th March. On the 4th June he commenced his Flight Engineers training at Torquay. On 23rd December 1943 he was promoted to Sargent, spent some time at RAF Henswell and on the 25th June 1944 found himself at Ludford Magna with a new crew (his previous crew at Hemswell had just been lost). On the 19th July 44 he wrote: “on constant standby – took part in raid on Caen to support Army breakthrough – “an awe inspiring sight to see 1000 planes around you”… His last flight was the raid on Russelsheim on the 12/13 th August from which only one of the crew returned. He was 19.
A letter from the Air Ministry dated 1 April 1946 says "Captured German Documents show aircraft shot down at Morfelden 4.5 miles from Russlesheim. Further these records show that 5 members of the aircrew are buried at Gross Gerau 1 at Morfelden. 1 missing".....
In fact it turned out that 21 Aircrew lost at that time were buried together and were later reburied in Durnback War Cemetry.
A letter dated 4.7.1946 from The Rev Erckmann, Cross-Geren Hessen to Mr Horrocks. "Son buried here with 21 other aircrew who died between the 14th and 26th August 1944....."
Billy seemed fond of the following poem:
Rear Link
Faith is a weapon Wield it
Hope is a candle Shield it
Love is a garment Share it
Life is an adventure Dare it
Research is being pieced together from letters and records in family possession, incluing some remarkable correspondence between the families of the lost airmen.
The family are also indebted to Alan Barrow who has produced the following information, which is very much ongoing research.
It makes interesting reading in conjunction with the story on this same site of P/O Ronald Homes of a Pilots record of the same raid. Night of 12/13/08/44
- Pilot
Flt Sgt 1338028 Richard Howell Jenkins RAFVR (age n/k)
Newbridge Monmouthshire
Killed in crash (on 12th op), re-buried Durnbach Cemetery.
- Navigator
Flt Sgt 1459233 Thomas Horrocks RAFVR (age 21)
Son of Thomas and Margaret Horrocks
Flixton, Lancashire
Killed in crash,re- buried Durnbach Cemetery.
- Flight Engineer
Sgt 1836236 William Stanley Ballinger RAFVR (age 19)
Son of William Stephen and Louisa Ballinger
Chepstow, Monmouthshire
Killed in crash, (on 10th Op) re-buried Durnbach Cemetery.
- Bomb Aimer
Flt Sgt 1232857 James Myles RAFVR (age 21)
Son of George and Agnes Myles
Coventry
Killed in crash, re-buried Durnbach Cemetery.
- Wireless Operator
Flt Sgt 1474290 Leonard Gordon Spear RAFVR (age 21)
Son of Lt Col Richard William Spear CIE CBE and Grace Spear
Old Coulsden, Surrey
Killed in crash, re-buried Durnbach Cemetery.
- ABC Specialist
Sgt 2209024 Frank Thomas Edward Jones RAFVR (age 20)
Son of Edward and Elisabeth May Jones
Saltney, Flintshire
Killed in crash, re-buried Durnbach Cemetery.
- Mid Upper Gunner
Sgt 1045216 Joseph Thorley RAFVR (age 22)
Son of George and Mary Ann Thorley
Benwell, Newcastle upon Tyne
Killed in crash, re-buried Durnbach Cemetery.
- Rear Gunner
Sgt B H Cave
Baled out, survived POW
No further info.
The all NCO crew of Lancaster ME617 SR-N skippered by Flt Sgt Richard Howell Jenkins took off from Ludford Magna, to the NE of Wickenby, Lincolnshire at 2120hrs 12/08/44 as part of a total force of 297 aircraft from 1,3,4,5,6 and 8 (pathfinder) groups respectively, their target was to be the industrial/manufacturing town of Russelsheim (projected time over target 0014 to 0021 hrs). At the same time a force of 379 aircraft was detailed to attack Brunswick further to the north, (See Alan's tribute to F/O Hood at http://lancaster-lm658.co.uk/) their approach was via Bremen, this two pronged attack via indirect routes was designed to confound, or at least divide the night fighter force.
ME 617 carried an extra crew member (eight rather than the usual seven) as this aircraft along with many other from 101Sqdn was fitted with top secret equipment that required a specialist crew member to operate it. ABC or “airborne cigar” as it was known was basically the infancy stages of modern airborne electronic counter measures. An ABC equipped Lanc’ was only distinguishable by the prominent (usually two) antennae mounted on the top of the fuselage. Inside the aircraft the ABC operator would sit facing a radio frequency scanner on which he would search for the variable channels that were being used by the German ground controllers to guide the night fighters into an attack position. The ABC operator would scan the airwaves using his knowledge of the German language to locate and lock on to the frequency operative that night, he would then, using the powerful onboard transmitters broadcast a strong jamming signal to block communications between the “nachtjaeger” squadrons and their ground controllers, a method which did indeed help to delay and confound the enemy to some extent. Several methods of jamming were experimented with, one of the most successful was to mount a microphone under the cowling of each engine and jam the voice of the controller with the roar of all four Merlins at once! At one stage, when it became apparent to the enemy that some sort of organized jamming was taking place it was reported that the German controllers were using Wagnerian operatic society members to sing instructions to the night fighter pilots in the hope that such broadcasts would be mistaken for music channels.
Air ministry reports for the Russelsheim raid state that on this particular night the weather on the run in to the target was light cloud with some haze and 45mph winds at 20 000 ft. On the approach to the target there was heavy searchlight activity but only a slight ground barrage increasing in intensity as the raid progressed. The night fighters operating that night found themselves on track to intercept the bombers as they were heading across Belgium because the ground controllers assumed that the target was either Frankfurt or Mannheim, and had vectored the fighters accordingly, when Russelsheim was correctly identified as the target only slight changes of course were necessary to put the fighters close to the bomber stream.Visual green target indicators were dropped promptly and on time by pathfinder Mosquitoes of 8 group for the main force to bomb on, but visual identification of the target was not possible due to haze. Reconnaissance the following day showed that despite surrounding villages sustaining damage, the primary target, the Opel engineering works had sustained major damage.
Some raid statistics;
297 aircraft took off,
280 attacked target,
17 aborted/returned,
20 aircraft failed to return,
Of the 20 aircraft lost;
12 shot down by fighters (2 on approach to target, 2 over target, and 8 on return),
5 shot down by flak,
3 lost to unknown causes
Of the aircraft that returned;
18 had suffered varying degrees of flak damage (1 of which was severe),
2 had suffered fighter damage (1 of which was serious),
1 had suffered damage due to being hit by a drop bar from an incendiary case dropped from above,
2 aircraft collided on return approach but both managed to land.
|
Clifford Ballington . Royal Air Force from Sussex Clifford Ballington was in the RAF in 1940-42 and served in the north of Iceland.
|
CSM. Arthur Edward Balls . British Army 10th Btn., A Coy. Rifle Brigade from East London I am one of five sons of Arthur Balls. My father enlisted in April 1939. Due to previously enlisting whilst under age, and gaining experience elsewhere, he was promoted to Sargeant in July 1939 and then promoted to CSM in 1941.
Dad saw action in North Africa (Operation Torch} from 2nd November until November 1943.
During his tour in Africa, Dad was wounded when a shell landed on the edge of his trench. After the fall of Tunisia. He went to OCTU in England and was commissioned into the Manchester Regiment in July 1944. Dad died in January 2003.
|
Sgt William Ronald Balls . RAFVR 9 Squadron (d.8th Sep 1941) Sgt William Balls aged 20 was serving as a WOp/AG with 9 Squadron based at Honington in Suffolk. Wellington bomber WS Z 8845 on a mission to Berlin was reported to have been shot down by 4/NJG1 in Holland at 0050 hours on the 8th September. All crew were killed.
|
|
