Ball, Albert John

No.6537 – Private Albert John Ball – 2^nd Machine Gun Battalion AIF

Albert John Ball was born in Weymouth England to John and Grace Ball in 1888. The family were living at Melcombe Regis in Dorset. A brother Wilfred was born in 1898 and Edmund in 1900.

Albert was educated in England and the 1901 census had the family still living in Dorset England. He joined the Royal Garrison Artillery in 1905 where he joined No.80 Company RGA. This Company seems to have been based in India and Singapore. Albert later moved out to Australia where he married Edith Gertrude in 1916. A son, Albert Leonard Ball was born on 1^st August 1917.

Albert was working as an Iron Moulder and living on the corner of Harvest and Bruce Street North Fremantle when he enlisted into the AIF on the 16^th October 1916. He was passed as fit for service and the medical examiner found him to be 5 feet 8 inches, weight of 151 lbs; chest measurement of 35 inches; fresh complexion; grey eyes and dark hair. His religious denomination was Church of England.

Initially assigned to the 6^th Reinforcements to the 39^th Battalion, he was later transferred to the 19^th Reinforcements to the 28^th Battalion. This group left Fremantle on the 29^th January 1917 on the Miltiades, arriving at Devonport England on the 27^th March 1917.

He spent some time at the 7^th Battalion training camp at Rollestone where he ran into trouble twice for breaking curfew without a pass. In June 1917 Albert transferred to the Machine Gun Training Depot, where he stayed until October 1917. He then transferred to France and joined the 6^th Machine Gun Company on the 14^th November 1917. In early 1918 the 6^th Machine Gun Company joined up with the 5^th, 7^th & 22^nd Machine Gun Companies to form the 2^nd Machine Gun Battalion. Albert served with this unit throughout 1918. On the 31^st August 1918 Albert was badly wounded in battle at Perrone and he was admitted to the 9^th Field Ambulance. Unfortunately the wounds to his head proved severe to recover from and he never regained consciousness, dying form these wounds on the 4^th September 1918.

He was buried in Daours Communal Cemetery France.

Edith Bell had by now moved to King Street in East Fremantle and she received his personal effects and medals.

His son Albert Leonard Ball (pictured below) served in World War Two as a Sub-Lieutenant on HMAS Perth and was killed on the 1^st March 1942 when the Perth was sunk in Sunda Strait.