Pte 30255 Leonard Yates Ball

The 1891 Census shows 8 year old scholar Leonard living with his parents and siblings still at 110 Greenway Road, Runcorn. His father, James, is aged 42, a commission agent, his mother, Elizabeth, is aged 40, children Lillie 16, Jessie 14, James A. 13, Jane 13, William B. 10, Leonard Y. 7, Fred 5(all scholars), Elizabeth 3 and Daisy 2. 

 

The 1901 Census shows them as having moved next door to Yew Dale, 112 Greenway Road, Runcorn. His father, is aged 52, a self employed Commission Agent and local preacher, his mother is aged 50. Leonard is a 17 year old Drapers Assistant, he served his Apprenticeship with Messrs J & A Savage of Church Street Runcorn, the other children are Jessie 24, James A. 23, a grocers book keeper, Jane 22, a dressmaker, William B. 20, a grocers assistant, Fred 15, an assistant for an insurance collector, Elizabeth 13 and Daisy 12.  

 

The 1911 Census shows Leonard as aged 27 and a Drapers Assistant still living with his parents and siblings at 112 Greenway Road, Runcorn. His father is aged 62, a pensioned insurance agent, his mother is aged 60. They have been married for 36 years, and have had 13 children, 8of whom have survived. There are five children  in the houshold as well as Leonard; James A. 23, an insurance agent, Jane 32, William B. 30, a grocery manager, Elizabeth 23 and Daisy 22. 

 

His mother died, aged 61, on the 19th August 1912, and was buried at Runcorn Cemetery. 

 

Leonard then went to Pauldens Drapers in Manchester for a few years before returning to Runcorn as the manager of Central Drapers in the High Street owned by Mr G Haye. He sang in several of the best choirs throughout Runcorn area and sang at several Eisteddfod. He was known to have a "fair Baritone voice". During 1915 he became Draper Manager of Compton House Drapers in Church Street Runcorn.

 

In the Autumn of 1915 he enlisted as Pte 30255 Into the 19th Battalion (Pals) of The King's Liverpool Regiment along with his brother in law Thomas Wood 30179 also of the 19th Pals. Thomas had married Leonard's younger sister Daisy Ball in the October quarter of 1913 but she sadly she died aged 26 in the June quarter of 1915. Thomas was also a Draper and Baritone singer before enlistment.
 

They trained together and served in France together. They were both killed on the same day 30th July 1916 during the attack on Guillemont.

 

19^th Battalion Diary 30^th July 1916

MALTZ HORN FARM

BATTLE begun. ZERO hour 4:45 am. The Battalion reached its objective, but suffered heavy losses, and had to evacuate its position owing to no reinforcements.

Everard Wyrall gives details of the attack in his book The History of The King’s Regiment; 

"The 2nd Attack on Guillemont- 29th July 1916 the 89th Brigade the 20th King's were to attack on the right and the 19th on the left. During the evening of the 29th the night was dark and foggy when the Battalions moved off and the 19th with Lt Col G Rollo commanding, when passing the South east of the Briqueterie they were heavily shelled first with H E and then with a new kind of asphyxiating Gas shell which had curious results, at first it had no nasty effect but about 8 hrs later men began to fall sick with violent headaches and pains in the stomach. All ranks had to wear gas masks which in the darkness and mist made the going terribly difficult. It was indeed wonderful that they were able to reach their Assembly point at all. But they did and by 2.45 a.m. on the 30th July 1916 the Btn was assembled having suffered about 30 Casualties on the way up ready for the Zero hour at 4.45 a.m.

It is known that the two left Companies of the 19th under Capt. Dodd and Capt. Nicholson advanced in touch with the 2nd Royal Scots Fusiliers on their left although they suffered many casualties from Machine gun Fire did not encounter many Germans and reached their final objective about the time allocated, beginning at once to dig in south of the orchard on the South east corner of Guillemont.  

On the left of the 19th the Scots Fusiliers most gallantly forced their way through Guillemont to the eastern side of the village but were soon overwhelmed by the enemy and few returned. 

At 8 a.m. finding that the village was not held the two left Companies of the 19th received no word from the rear or either flank believed themselves to be totally isolated so were forced to fall back and dig in, their position being untenable.

At midday the effective fighting strength of the 19th Btn was just 7 Officers and 43 other ranks" 

When darkness fell on the battlefield the 30^th Division held a line from the railway on the eastern side of Trones Wood , southwards and including Arrow Head Copse, to east of Maltz Horn Farm. On this line the division was relieved by the 55^th Division during the early hours of the 31^st July. 

Casualties in the 19^th Battalion were 11 Officers and 435 Other Ranks 

The events of 30^th July 1916 were regarded at the time as Liverpool’s blackest day. There follows an extract from The History of the 89^th Brigade written by Brigadier General Ferdinand Stanley which gives an indication of the events of the day.

Guillemont

Well the hour to advance came, and of all bad luck in the world it was a thick fog; so thick that you couldn’t see more than about ten yards. It was next to impossible to delay the attack – it was much too big an operation- so forward they had to go. It will give some idea when I say that on one flank we had to go 1,750 yards over big rolling country. Everyone knows what it is like to cross enclosed country which you know really well in a fog and how easy it is to lose your way. Therefore, imagine these rolling hills, with no landmarks and absolutely unknown to anyone. Is it surprising that people lost their way and lost touch with those next to them? As a matter of fact, it was wonderful the way in which many men found their way right to the place we wanted to get to. But as a connected attack it was impossible.

The fog was intense it was practically impossible to keep direction and parties got split up. Owing to the heavy shelling all the Bosches had left their main trenches and were lying out in the open with snipers and machine guns in shell holes, so of course our fellows were the most easy prey.

It is so awfully sad now going about and finding so many splendid fellows gone.           

Leonard's body never found but he is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme.

The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Over 90% of those commemorated died between July and November 1916. 

On 01^st August 1932 the Prince of Wales and the President of France inaugurated the Thiepval Memorial in Picardy. The inscription reads: “Here are recorded the names of officers and men of the British Armies who fell on the Somme battlefields between July 1915 and March 1918 but to whom the fortune of war denied the known and honoured burial given to their comrades in death.”

His death was reported in the Runcorn Guardian on 25th August 1916

PRIVATE LEN BALL

The relatives of Private Leonard Y. Ball of "Yewdale", Greenway Road, Runcorn have received the official notification of his death. The notification stating 'killed in action' on 30th ult. They had had unofficial intimations in letters from several of his chums to their relatives that did not hold much hope. "Len" Ball, as he was perhaps better known, joined the Pals Liverpool in the latter part of 1915. He soon became and efficient soldier, and before Christmas of last year was drafted to France, and from his letters it appears that he had been in the fighting line practically ever since, and had gone through many hot engagements. Private Len Ball was the third son of Mr James Ball and was a draper by trade. He served his apprenticeship with Messrs. J. and A. Savage of Church Street. Runcorn, and then went to Paulden's, Manchester where he remained for some time, coming back to Runcorn as manager for Mr C. Hayes, Central, High Street, and just prior to enlisting was the manager of Compton House, Church Street. He was 34 years of age and took great interest in matters musical, principally as a vocalist. He had a good baritone voice and had been connected with some of Runcorn's best choirs, and had sung with them at various Eisteddfodan. Several Sundays ago, when in the trenches, he struck up the tune "Aberystwyth" to "Jesu, lover of my soul", and his officers and pals we're so impressed that he was asked to teach them the tune. Private Ball was a man of fine physique, standing almost 6 feet in height. A memorial service was held on Sunday evening at St. Paul's Wesleyan Church with which body he and his family have been connected for many years, his father being the oldest layman on the plan of the Runcorn Circuit. A curious coincidence might be mentioned in regard to Private Ball and his brother-in-law Private Tom Wood, both joined on the same day, were training together, and went out to France the same day, had been in all fighting together, and we're killed on the same day, one by gunshot, and the other by shrapnel.

Details of a Memorial Service for Len and Tom was also reported in the Runcorn Guardian on 25th August 1916:

FALLEN BRUNSWICK SCHOLARS

Memorial Service

A memorial service was held at St. Paul's Wesleyan Church on Sunday for three old Brunswick scholars who have lost their lives during the last two or three weeks - Lance Corporal Tom Wood, Private Len Ball and Private Charlie Pearson. These three names swell the list of old Brunswick scholars who have made the supreme sacrifice for their country, to ten out of the total on the Roll of Honour of ninety seven, not to mention several who have been wounded. The pulpit was occupied by the Rev. J. E. Howard, who made sympathetic references to the three old scholars. Special hymns were sung, with Miss M. Holt, who was at the organ, played special music. The families of each of the deceased soldiers were present.

In the course of his sermon the reverend gentleman read appreciations of each young man written in each case by those who had known him from boyhood.

In the case of Lance Corporal Wood he read: "To know Tom Wood and to enjoy his companionship was to appreciate the qualities which make the clean, strong man he was. Of a vivacious and lively temperament, passionately fond of music, he enjoyed many friendships. I have known him from childhood, taught him at Sunday School, and known him in his deepest sorrow when he lost his dear wife. He always bore a brave heart, how cheering where his letters to his father. How he anticipated the day when once again he should return to his baby boy; never a murmur of hardships endured, his only thought to cheer his dear father. His love for his father was a beautiful trait in his character, he loved 'whatsoever things are true, beautiful and of good report.' Many will mourn his loss, and our sympathies are with his father and the little orphan. He possessed abilities above the ordinary, clear judgement and quick perception, qualities which go to making a good soldier, which he was.

From early childhood to manhood Lance Corporal Wood was a regular scholar of old Brunswick. His name is on the Roll of Honour.

Of L. Ball he read: "He was a big man with a big heart, which was as tender as a woman's. He was of sunny disposition, never morose, ever cheerful. I never heard an unkind word from him, or the expression of an uncharitable criticism of others. Perhaps the memory that will live longest is that he not only proved himself a hero on the battlefield, but he was also one at home. The tenderness and care he always exhibited to his invalid mother was most touching, his thoughts were ever of her, and how he could best please her, bringing home some trifle or dainty to cheer her in her affliction. This was characteristic of him. In my own family he was a great favourite, we mourn the loss of 'Our Len.'  In a recent letter I received from him, this expression occurred 'I realize more and more that we are not our own, but I also realise that the discipline is all for our good.' There was evidence of deep thoughtfulness in his letters, always hopeful, and I believe greatly sustained by his sense of duty, and the great ideal he was fighting for."

His name appears on St. Paul's Roll of Honour. For a time he was a member of St. Paul's Choir. His name is also on the Weston School Roll of Honour as a former scholar. 

The Liverpool Post & Mercury reported on 30th August 1916 among those fallen in action, under the heading "Tragic Coincidence":

"Lance-Corporal T. Wood and Private Len. Ball, of Runcorn, who are brothers-in-law, were killed in action in France on the same day. They enlisted together in the King's Liverpools, in the latter part of 1915, and before Christmas went out to France together, where they entered the trenches together. They were in some hot engagements. Both of them were well-known vocalists, and Private Ball, in a letter home, describes how he sang in the trenches one Sunday a hymn to the tune "Aberystwyth". The officers and his comrades were so impressed that he was asked to teach them the tune, and the trenches were soon ringing with the famous Welsh tune."

His Soldiers Effects of £2:19s:6d was sent to his father James on 30th November 1916.

 

His father died two years later on 30th November 1918 and was buried at Runcorn Cemetery. 

Probate 1919:- 

BALL James of 112 Greenway-road, Runcorn Cheshire insurance agent died 30 November 1918 Probate Chester 4 February to James Alfred Ball and Fred Ball insurance agents. Effects £1128 18s 5d. 

Both Leonard and Tom were remembered in the Runcorn Weekly News on Friday 25 July 1919: 

BALL—WOOD. In loving memory of Leonard Y. Ball and Thomas Wood, K.L.R. (Pals), who fell in action, July 30th, 1916.-112, Greenway road, Runcorn.  

Dearer to memory than words can tell 

Are the thoughts of those we loved so well.  

A War Gratuity of £3:10s was sent to his older brother James Alfred Ball on 22nd November 1919.

Further remembrance was found in the Runcorn Weekly News on Friday 30 July 1920: 

BALL—WOOD. In loving memory of Leonard Y. Ball and Thomas Wood, K.L.R. (Pals), who fell in action, July 30th, 1916.-112, Greenway road, Runcorn.  

“Till the day breaks, and the shadows flee away.” 

Len has a separate tablet by the family grave in Runcorn, the inscription under the K.L.R. “Sans Changer” badge reads:-

In Loving Memory of 

Pte. LEONARD Y. BALL, 

Who Fell in Action 

At The Battle of Guillemont 

On July 30th, 1916, 

Aged 33 Years. 

We currently have no further information on Leonard Yates Ball, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.