Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Frederick Gordon Stuart Ball was born on the 11th of July 1888. Before enlisting for the First World War in 1915, Ball was a farmer. His father was Alfred Ball who lived in Warooka and was Fred's nominated next of kin. Ball was single and was a methodist. Ball’s height was 5 feet and 6 inches tall, had a medium skin tone, a 32-34-inch-wide chest, grey eyes, brown hair, and weighed 59 kilograms.

On the 5th of July 1915, Ball, without any previous military experience, enlisted in the A.I.F as a private, getting assigned to the 32nd Battalion, B company as a Driver. On the 18th of November 1915, Ball embarked from Adelaide, South Australia, making his way on board the HMAT A2 Geelong, sailing towards Egypt.

In Egypt, the 32nd Battalion merged in with another group of men, forming a newly raised 5th Australian division. Before sailing to France in June 1916, Ball went to hospital for 3 days due to catching influenza. Ball was discharged from hospital, rejoining the 32nd Battalion which in June, sailed from Egypt to France.

From 1916 to 1918, Ball and the 32nd Battalion fought in the front line to support France and Belgium. Ball fought in the battle of Fromelles on the 19th of July 1916, in which, almost 2000 Australians and British died on field and 400 Australians and British were captured by the Germans. Ball also fought in the second battle of Bullecourt on the 3rd of May 1917, the battle of Polygon Woods on the 26th of September 1917, the battle of the German spring offensive on the 1st of March 1918, and the Battle of the Amiens on the 8th of August 1918. In the war diary from the Battle of the Amiens, it states that the 32nd Battalion fought alongside the 22nd, 29th, 30th and 31st Battalions on field, capturing more ground by using a diamond formation to attack from all angles. 

Through all this fighting in the front line, Ball was granted many breaks from war such as a special leave to England on the 14th of January 1917. Ball came back from his special leave on the 2nd of February 1917 but 7 days later, Ball was immediately transported to the 38th casualty clearing station hospital due to catching mumps. Ball then took another special leave back to England on the 11th of January 1918, and returned on the 28th of January 1918, rejoining back into the 32nd Battalion. After the war, Ball took a special leave, going to Paris on the 29th of January 1919. He then rejoined the 32nd Battalion on the 12th of February 1919.

After fighting for 5 years, Ball and the 32nd Battalion were repatriated to Australia. He was first sent to England on the 5th of March 1919 and then embarked for Australia via boat on the 14th of March 1919.

Ball and the 32nd Battalion returned to Waymouth, South Australia. Ball was then discharged from the war after 5 years of service in Europe on the 12th of August 1919. Ball was then awarded medals such as the 1914–1915-Star Medal, British War Medal, and a Victory Medal for his service in World War 1. Frederick Gordon Stuart Ball died on the 24th of October 1962, aged 74 years old. He was buried in the Warooka Methodist Cemetery.