BALL, Robert Ernest
| Service Number: | 1685 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 4 August 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Lance Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 13th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Merewether, New South Wales, Australia, 4 November 1891 |
| Home Town: | Merewether, Newcastle, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Tram conductor |
| Died: | Accident: fell down stairs, Islington, New South Wales, Australia, 18 March 1927, aged 35 years |
| Cemetery: |
Sandgate General Cemetery, Newcastle, NSW CATHOLIC 1-22. 83. |
| Memorials: | Hamilton Newcastle District Tramways Roll of Honor, Merewether Memorial Gates |
World War 1 Service
| 4 Aug 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1685, 30th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 17 Dec 1915: | Involvement Private, 1685, 30th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '16' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Berrima embarkation_ship_number: A35 public_note: '' | |
| 17 Dec 1915: | Embarked Private, 1685, 30th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Berrima, Sydney | |
| 4 Mar 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 4th Sanitary Section | |
| 19 Mar 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 4th Sanitary Section | |
| 11 Mar 1917: | Discharged AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 1685, 13th Infantry Battalion, medically unfit (rheumatism) |
Help us honour Robert Ernest Ball's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Evan Evans
From Gary Mitchell
Served during The Great War, died tragically, now resting at Sandgate Cemetery.
95 years ago today, on the 20th March 1927, Private Robert Ernest Ball, 13th Battalion (Reg No-1685), tram conductor from Janet Street, Merewether, New South Wales and 184 Maitland Road, Islington, N.S.W., father of six (Ernest Raymond, Hazel J - born 1912, Newcastle, N.S.W., died 1913, St Peters, N.S.W., John A, Leslie, Neville Douglas and Gwendoline Mary Ball), was laid to rest at Sandgate Cemetery, age 35. CATHOLIC 1-22. 83.
Note - name Ernest Robert Ball inscribed on birth certificate for son Ernest, John A, marriage certificate and headstone inscription.
Born at Merewether, New South Wales on the 4th November 1891 to Albert and Nellie (Ellen) Ball; husband of Florence May Ball nee Coleman (married 1911, Newcastle, N.S.W., died? possibly remarried August 1927 in Sydney as ANABLE- note, marriage certificate states Ernest Robert Ball), Robert enlisted August 1915 with the 30th Battalion at Newcastle, N.S.W.
Admitted to hospital 18.8.1916 (rhematic fever, slight).
Robert was invalided home April 1917, being discharged medically unfit (rheumatism) on the 11th May 1917.
Mr. Ball’s name has been inscribed on the Newcastle District Tramway Employees Roll of Honor (photos, unveiled on the 30th September 1916, 48 names originally inscribed, 70 names now inscribed, 10 Fallen), Merewether (Mitchell Park) Memorial Gates and The Capt. Clarence Smith Jeffries (V.C.) and Pte. William Matthew Currey (V.C.) Memorial Wall.
The tragic circumstances of Robert’s death were reported.
There is no indication inscribed on Robert’s headstone plaque of his service with the 1st A.I.F., so I have placed poppies and a 1914-1918 WAR label in remembrance of his sacrifice for God, King & Country. Note – inscription reads Ernest R. Ball, died 13.3.1927 (incorrect, should be the 18th March), age 36 (incorrect, should be 35.).
Robert's son Ernest Raymond Ball (NX47610, born 5.9.1911, died 1955), served WW2, also resting at the cemetery. CATHOLIC 2. 46. 45.
Many thanks to Suzanne Stroud for the additional information.
Contact with descendants would be greatly appreciated.
Lest We Forget.
Click images to start slideshow.