BALLARD, Milton Hollroyd
| Service Number: | 4556 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 7 September 1915, Cootamundra, New South Wales |
| Last Rank: | Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 45th Infantry Battalion (WW1) |
| Born: | Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia, 1897 |
| Home Town: | Whitton, Leeton, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Public School, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Belgium, 7 June 1917 |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Menin Gate Memorial (Commonwealth Memorial to the Missing of the Ypres Salient), Whitton BALLARD Memorial Plaque, Whitton War Memorial Gates and Playground |
World War 1 Service
| 7 Sep 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Cootamundra, New South Wales | |
|---|---|---|
| 15 Jan 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 1st Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '7' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: RMS Osterley embarkation_ship_number: '' public_note: '' | |
| 15 Jan 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 1st Infantry Battalion, RMS Osterley, Sydney | |
| 7 Jun 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Corporal, 4556, 45th Infantry Battalion (WW1), --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 4556 awm_unit: 45 Battalion awm_rank: Corporal awm_died_date: 1917-06-07 | |
| Date unknown: | Involvement 1st Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières |
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Son of Mary Jane Laird (formerly Ballard), of Yalgogrin North, New South Wales, and the late Edward George James Ballard. Native of Wagga Wagga, New South Wales.
Biography contributed by Allison Ballard
Milton Hollorde (different spelling as per his birth certificate) Ballard was born on 22 April 1898, in Murray Street, Wagga Wagga, NSW. His birthdate on AIF records differs from his 1897 birthdate as given elsewhere. This means that Milton was just 17 years and 4 months when he enlisted on 7 September 2015, and not 18 years and 4 months as noted on his army records. His mother had to to give permission for Milton to enlist and she would have known that he was too young.
Milton was killed in action in Belgium (or perhaps France as noted one one of his AIF documents) on 7 June 1917 at age 19 years. At the time of enlistment in 1915, Milton was described as 5'10" tall with dark complexion and brown eyes and being of Church of England religion.
Milton served with D Company, 45th Infantry Battalion, AIF (see the Men of Menin attachment for more information on his service).
It appears that Milton may have had a young friend or sweetheart - a Miss A May, of 'Kinnaber' Lyall Street, Leichhardt, Sydney, NSW. Ms May wrote to the army in December 1917 saying that she understood that Milton was believed to have been killed in action but that she had not seen it in the papers. She was anxious to know if anything had happened to him.
Mitlon was promoted to Corporal on 24 May 1917 and then spent time in hospital in France, before being discharged and returned to the front line, just days before his death by a gunshot to the head in Belgium (or France - see page 7 of Milton's NAA record). When he was evacuated sick to hospital, Milton reverted to the rank of Lance Corporal. He rejoined his battalion on 30 May 1917 before being killed on 7 June 1917.
Milton's birth informant was his mother, Jane Ballard. His doctor was C F Warren, and the other witness was a Mrs Beaver. Mitlon's father was James Ballard, a general labourer, aged 52 years, and born in Melbourne, Victoria. Milton had a sister who was born on 22 December 1888 who was recorded as deceased at the time of his birth. Milton's mother Jane (nee McLaughlan) was aged 31 at the time of Milton's birth. She was also born in Melbourne.
Jane remarried Mr William John Laird (son of John and Henrietta, nee Neave) in 1908 when Milton was aged 10. Milton reports William as being his stepfather in his AIF documentation. Jane's contact address was given as PO Whitton, NSW, and later as North Yalgogrin, NSW.
On 1 December 1917, Mrs Laird wrote to the AIF from Whitton, advising that she 'should be glad if you have on hand any personal affects or belonging to my dear lad or if any return parcels I should be only to glad to receive them.'
In 1921, the army wrote to Mrs Laird to advise that the inscription she had selected exceeded the 66 letters allowed by the Imperial War Graves Commission, with spaces counting as a letter. The writer also pointed out that 'the Star of David is the emlbem of the Jewish faith whereas the Cross is symbolic of Chritianity - irrespective of any particular denomination. As th recrods show that your son was a member of the Church of Englanf it is thought that you would prefer to have the Chirsitan cross insbribed. Kindly advise in the matter as soon as possible.' (page 25 of Milton's NAA record). There is no record of the inscription Mrs Baird sought. The army again wrote to Mrs Laird on 26 January 1922, seeking her response and underlining expectations around word lenght. There is no record of Mrs Laird's reply though on 19 September 1922, she acknowledges receipy of Milton's Memorial Scroll and King's message, and on 11 April 1925, receipt of his Victory Medal and British War Medal.
William Laird died on 18 March 1927. He is buried in the Yalgogrin North Cemetery, Yalgogrin, Bland Shire, New South Wales, Australia.
Jane (Mary Jane) may have died in Orange in 1947 (NSWBDM 21445/1947).
Milton's name is missing from https://vwma.org.au/explore/memorials/1789/people but his war story is at https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/awm-media/collection/AWM2018.1007.1.1/document/8497022.PDF
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