George Frederick Ball

GEORGE FREDERICK BALL

Private 22018, York and Lancaster Regiment

Died 1st July 1916 aged 27

No Known Grave Commemorated Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France

Husband of Edith Mary Ball

Lived 16, High Street, Heckmondwike

George was born Jan/Feb/Mar 1889, the eldest child of George Ball and Eva nee Woodcock. His sister Eleanor Mary was born 2 years later in 1891 and, tragically, his mother Eva died in childbirth at this time aged only 25 years.

In 1891 census (just after Eva died) George Frederick was with his maternal grandparents Joseph and Jane Woodcock at Church Lane Villa, Knowler Hill, Liversedge. Joseph Woodcock was a Manufacturing Chemist and well known local Methodist preacher. His sister Eleanor Mary was with her father at her paternal grandparents John and Amelia Ball at Moor End Lane, Dewsbury.

In 1899 George had married Edith Mary Fawcett and by 1901 they were living with Eleanor Mary at 18, High Street, Heckmonndwike. George Frederick was still with his grandparents at Church Lane Villa.

Joseph and Jane Woodcock retired to Morecambe and Joseph died there in 1908. George Frederick was still living with his grandmother Jane at Morecambe in 1911 and was a Student Teacher. Eleanor Mary was still with her father and stepmother in 1911 at 16, High Street Heckmondwike. There doesn’t appear to be any more children to the second marriage.

George Frederick enlisted in the York and Lancaster Regiment and died on the first day of the Battle of the Somme. He has no known grave, but his name is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing.

He was awarded the War Medal and the Victory Medal.

His name is also on the St James’s Parish Church War Memorial and St Saviour’s Church War Memorial.{MA-008}

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