Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Henry Ball a general labourer, born 1849 in Ratby, Leicestershire and Eliza Lee, born 1850 in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire. Tom Ball Lee was born in the 4th quarter of 1888 in Aylestone, Leicester, he had a half blood sibling, William Lee, a boot and shoe trade finisher, born 1872 in Leicester and siblings, Fred Ball Lee, born 1880 in Belgrave, Leicester and Henry Ball Lee, born 1881 in Leicester, in April 1891 the family home was at Saffron Hill Road, Aylestone, Leicester. In March 1901 Tom was residing in the family home at 36, Grange Lane, Leicester, together with his father a general labourer, his mother and siblings, Fred, a rubber mill labourer and George Lee, born 1891 in Leicester. In the 1st quarter of 1905 Henry Ball married Eliza Lee in the Leicester district. In the first quarter of 1905 in the Market Bosworth, Leicestershire district, Eliza died aged 55. In April 1911 Tom was absent from the family home at 48, Outram Street, Leicester, residing there was his father, a warehouseman, his stepmother Sophia Ball (formerly Dunkley, married in the 2nd quarter of 1909 in the Leicester district), born 1868 in Irchester, Northamptonshire and his sibling Fred Ball, a rubber trade worker and his step siblings, David Dunkley, a rubber trade worker, born 1891, William Dunkley, a yarn trade worker, born 1893, the latter two step siblings were both born in Belgrave, Leicester, Caroline Dunkley, a hosiery trade worker, born 1895 and George, a rubber trade worker, born 1897, the latter two step siblings were both born in Leicester, also residing with the family was Tom’s daughter, Vera Ball, born on the 5th February 1908 in Leicester. Tom married Mabel Roberts in the 3rd quarter of 1907 in the Leicester district. Tom’s widow married Harry E. Bent in the 3rd quarter of 1915 in the Leicester district, and they resided at 16, Corah Street, Dun’s Lane, Leicester. Tom was officially recorded at birth as Tom Ball Lee, the surname Ball was used exclusively after the 1891 census.
Tom attested into the Territorial Force to serve 4 years Service in the United Kingdom on the 1st June 1910 in Leicester. He gave his place of birth as Aylestone, Leicester, his age as 22 years and 9 months and his trade or calling as rubber hand, his employer being the Midland Railway Goods Shed. He gave his home address as 15, Middle Street, Leicester. He confirmed that he was married. He gave his father H. Ball of 48, Outram Street, Leicester as his next of kin, this was changed to his wife, Mabel Ball of 56, Eastbourne Road, then changed to 5, Middle Street and finally changed to 8, Corah Street, Dun’s Lane, Leicester. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 4¾ inches in height, and he had a chest measurement of between 32 and 35 inches. His vision and physical development were described as good. He gave his religion as Church of England. He was pronounced fit for the Territorial Force on the 1st June 1910 in Leicester. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the Leicestershire Regiment as a Private, service number 1187 on the 1/6/10. Posted to the 4th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment and commenced recruit training on the 1/6/10. Attended training at Hindlow on the 31/7/10 – 14/8/10. Attended training at High Tor Farm on the 6/8/11 – 20/8/11. Attended training at Aberytswyth on the 4/8/12 – 11/8/12. Attended training at Grantham, and promoted to Lance Corporal on the 3/8/13 – 17/8/13. Re-engaged for two years on the 1/6/14. Embodied service commenced on the 5/8/14. Deprived of Lance Corporal stripe on the 14/8/14. Admitted to the 1st/2nd North Midland Field Ambulance suffering from a gunshot wound to his back on the 17/4/15. Admitted to No.8 Casualty Clearing Station, Bailleul, France on the 17/4/15. Admitted to the No.3 General Hospital in Treport, France on the 21/4/15. Died of wounds at 4.30pm on the 1/5/15. A summary of his service records: Home Service, 1/6/10 – 1/3/15, 274 days. British Expeditionary Force, France, 2/3/15 – 2/5/15, 61 days. Total Service 335 days. Tom was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British and Victory medals. A weekly pension of 5 shillings to commence on the 8th November 1915, was awarded to Tom’s daughter Vera, and to be paid to her guardian. The following information was provided by Tom’s wife Mabel Ball on the 27th October 1919, and was witnessed and signed by J. W. -?-, Clerk in Holy Orders, St. Mary’s Vicarage, Leicester on ARMY FORM W. 5080 (Information on deceased soldier’s family) Wife of soldier, Mabel Ball of 16, Corah Street, Dun’s Lane, Leicester. Children of soldier, Vera Ball, born 5th February 1908, of 48, Outram Street, Leicester. Father of soldier, Henry Ball of 48, Outram Street, Leicester. Mother of soldier, dead. Full blood brothers of soldier, George Ball, age 25, soldiering. Full blood sisters of soldier, none. Tom’s surviving service documents are in a poor condition, and much of the finer detail relating to the period of time that he spent in the army, is either illegible or missing, hence the sparse overall description of his military and personal family history.
The War Diary records: 16 Apr-15 – TRENCHES. Very quiet all day. Fine and warm. Sharp gunning in North East direction shortly after day break. Commanding Officer out with guide – guide wounded. 8:30pm. 1st/4th LINCOLNSHIRE REGIMENT arrived to relieve. Very dark and wet. 9:00pm Relief commenced. 1 killed (OR) in E.3. 2 wounded 1 in E.1, 1 in F.2. 1 wounded in PICCADILLY. Killed No.3393 Pte. E. Ward “A” Company. Wounded No.3574 Pte A. H. Jones “D” Company (guide). No.3005 Pte. W. M. Cook “B” Company. No. 2497 Pte. E. H. Walker “B” Company.
The War Diary records: 17 Apr-15 - DRANOUTRE SECTOR. Relief completed at about 12.20am but not reported over until about 1.10am owing to failure of relieving officer to report at once after taking over. Men far less exhausted than after first time in trenches. Interior economy. Very heavy gunnery from direction of YPRES or slightly south continued about 1 hour. This apparently was previous to a -?- attack. 1st/4th LINCOLNSHIRE REGT did not relieve 1st/5th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT, unsafe night understandably.
On Saturday April 24th 1915 The Leicester Chronicle and Leicestershire Mercury published the following article under the heading. “LOCAL CASUALTIES.” – LEICESTER MEN KILLED. The Rev. P. Ashby, chaplain to the 2nd Field Ambulance, 1st Lincoln and Leicester Brigade, North Midland Division, writes to Mr. Ball, 48, Outram Street, Leicester, informing him that his son, Thomas Ball was seriously wounded on Friday last. There is, the chaplain adds, some chance of his recovery. He has been removed to a base hospital. Mr. Ball has three other sons at the front.
On Friday May 7th 1915 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “DISTRICT WAR ITEMS.” – TERRITORIAL’S DEATH FROM WOUNDS. - A telegram received by his parents on Monday, records the death from wounds, in No. 3 General Hospital, Le Treport, on Saturday of Lance Corporal Tom Ball, of the 4th Leicester’s, second son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Ball, of 48, Outram Street, Leicester. Lance Corporal Ball, a last maker by trade, has served in the Territorial’s for about three years, and was 25 years of age. Three of his brothers are serving with the Colours, in the 1st, 2nd, and 4th Leicester’s, respectively.
On Friday June 4th 1915 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “THE ROLL OF HONOUR.” – LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT CASUALTIES. – The following casualties among warrant officers, non commissioned officers, and men of the 2nd and 4th (Territorial) Leicester Regiments are reported from the Base, under date 13th and 14th May:-
DIED OF WOUNDS.
2nd Batt. (T.F.) Leicestershire Regt.
Ball, 1187, T.