Family Group: Pair: Driver T. Ball, Royal Field Artillery, who was killed in action on...

Family Group: Pair: Driver T. Ball, Royal Field Artillery, who was killed in action on the Western Front on 30 July 1918 British War and Victory Medals (118799 Dvr. T. Ball. R.A.); Memorial Plaque (Thomas Ball); Memorial Scroll ‘Driver Thomas Ball, Royal Field Artillery’, nearly extremely fine Pair: Private R. Ball, East Lancashire Regiment British War and Victory Medals (32785 Pte. R. Ball. E. Lan. R.) very fine (6) £140-£180 --- Thomas Ball was born at Seaforth, Lancashire, in 1894, and attested for the Royal Field Artillery at Southport. Posted to the Western Front as Driver in the 30th Divisional Ammunition Column, he was killed in action on 30 July 1918. The Southport Visitor of 8 August 1918 adds a little more information: ‘A letter from his officer who was with him at the time, reads: “I write on behalf of the C.O. to convey to you the deepest sympathy of officers, N.C.O.’s and men, for you in the loss of your son, Driver Tom Ball. He was highly esteemed by his officers, both for his work as driver, and for himself, and he was very popular among his comrades. I can tell you minutely how it happened. During the early morning of the 30th, we had taken up several wagons of ammunition, and got them cleared off the battery position without mishap. Your son was centre driver of the last team, and we only had 2 more boxes to unload when, without warning, the enemy opened fire. Their first shells hit his two mules and wounded him mortally in the throat and chest, and also seriously wounded his left leg just below the knee. He only lived about 8 minutes [more]...’ He is buried at Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery, Souchez. Reynold Ball was born in 1898 and served in France with the 13th Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment. He was later admitted to hospital in 1918 and transferred to the 2nd Infantry Labour Company, before being released from military service in 1919 and likely resuming civilian employment as a gardener.