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Difference between revisions of "Frank Ball"

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Revision as of 17:33, 10 June 2018

{{infobox soldier | image =Unknown.png | caption = | image2 = | caption2 = | dateofbirth = unknown March 1893 | placeofbirth = Perth, Western Australia | death = 2 May 1915 | placeofdeath = Gallipoli Peninsular, Turkey | enlistmentage = 21 years, 7 months | description = 5'6' (1.52m); 133lbs; dark complexion, brown eyes, dark hair | height = 5'6" (1.52m) | weight = 133lbs | complexion = dark | eyes = brown | hair = brown | descriptionnote = | occupation = Labourer | religion = Church of England | address = Maddington, Western Australia | relation = Father | nextofkin = Mt W Ball | regnumber = 812 | enlistmentdate = 21 Sep 1914 | rank = Private | unit = 16th Battalion. 1st Reinforcements | embarkationdatefrom = 22 Dec 1914 | embarkationdateto = 1 Feb 1915 | shipembarked = HMAT A35 Berrima | dateofreturnfrom = | dateofreturnto = | shipreturned = | shipreturnednote = | dateofreturnfrom2 = | dateofreturnto2 = | shipreturned2 = | shipreturnednote2 = | fate1 = Killed in Action 2 May 1915 | fate2 = | fate3 = | fate4 = | monument1 = [[Gosnells Road Board Honour Roll] | monumentnote1 = | monument2 = Lone Pine Memorial | monumentnote2 = | monument3 = | monumentnote3 = | monument4 = | monumentnote4 = | monumentawm = | medal1 = 1914-15 Star | medal2 = British War Medal | medal3 = Victory Medal | medal4 = }}


Pre War

Prior to his enlistment Frank lived in Perth, working as a labourer.

War Service

Following basic training at Blackboy Hill camp near Perth, he travelled to Melbourne and joined the 16th Battalion in training at the Broadmeadows camp. Frank embarked with the rest of his unit from Melbourne on board “HMAT Berrima (A35),” on the 22 December 1914. Arriving in Egypt in February 1915, the men proceeded to Tel-El-Kebir Camp to continue training.

Frank transferred from the 1st Reinforcement draft to the battalion proper on 22 Mar 1915, and was allocated to A Company. On 11 Apr 1915 he travelled by train with the rest of the battalion to Alexandria where they arrived early the next morning. On arrival they waited on the wharf until early afternoon to board HMT Haida Pascha, sailing for Lemnos on 14 Apr 1915.

On 17, 18 and 19 April the battalion practised landings from ship's boats. Heavy rain over the next few days put an end to the training and they waited aboard ship.

Not a part of the "Screening Force', the 16th Battalion and HMT Haida Pascha remained in Mudros Harbour on Lemnos until around lunch time on 25 Apr 1915 before steaming to Anzac Cove where the battalion landed in the late afternoon of Day 1.

At nightfall on 2 May, the 16th Battalion attacked up a hill called the Bloody Angle towards Quinn’s Post, and throughout the night they continued to fight and dig trenches. Those that dug n were to become exposed with it being almost impossible to communicate with them or to resupply them. The Turks occupied high ground above them and were able to enfilade them from strongly held positions with the result that those who could were forced to retreat back past Quinn's Post to the gully below.

Frank was reported missing on 2 May 1915. At a Court of Enquiry held in Egypt from 6-8-18 Apr 1916, Frank was declared to have been killed in action on 2 May 1915 at Bloody Angle, Gallipoli. The 16th Battalion's War Diary gives no clue as to how he may have died, especially in the way that no one around him noticed his death.

Notes

Brother of 1874 Ernest Ball DCM, and Horace Munro Bell who returned to Australia.

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