Medals from the Collection of Peter and Dee Helmore

Five: Major W. F. Ball, Devonshire Regiment, who was wounded in action at Polderhoek in October 1917

British War and Victory Medals (Major W. F. Ball.); Territorial Force War Medal 1914-19 (Major W. F. Ball. Devon. R.); Defence Medal; Territorial Decoration, G.V.R., silver and silver-gilt, hallmarks for London 1919, unnamed as issued, with integral top riband bar (the top bar adapted for mounting), mounted as worn, good very fine (5) £500-£700

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from the Collection of Peter and Dee Helmore.

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Dix Noonan Webb, September 2016

T.D. London Gazette 14 January 1920.

William Francis Ball was born in Torquay in 1885 and educated at Blundell’s School, Tiverton. Enlisting as a Private in the 3rd (Sunderland) Volunteer Battalion, Durham Light Infantry, in January 1904 he was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the same battalion on 24 September 1904 and was promoted Lieutenant the following year. Returning to his home county of Devon he was transferred as Lieutenant to the 5th (The Hay Tor) Volunteer Battalion, Devonshire Regiment on 11 November 1906. On the formation of the Territorial Army, he was appointed to the 7th (Cyclist) Battalion, Devonshire Regiment on 1 April 1908. Promoted Captain in 1910 he is shown in the 1911 Census residing in Torquay employed as a Consulting Engineer assisting in his father’s Steamship Company operating out of Torquay.

Embodied for Great War service with the 7th Battalion he was initially employed patrolling the North East Coast between Scarborough and Seaton Delaval and assisted in rescuing survivors from the Hospital Ship Rohilla wrecked off Whitby on 30 October 1914 and in the following December they were involved during the German Naval bombardment of the East Coast towns. Posted to the 1st Battalion he embarked for France on 21 July 1917 and was promoted Major on. 24 August 1917. During the 1st Battalion’s action at Polderhoek during the Third Battle of Ypres on 3-4 October 1917 he received a gunshot wound to his left arm and was medically evacuated to England. On recovery he was posted to the 2/7th Battalion and completed a Revolver Course at Bisley qualifying First Class Instructor in May 1918.

Disembodied at Fovant on 2 May 1919 he was awarded his Territorial Decoration in January 1920 and retired from the Territorial Army Reserve of Officers on 4 May 1935. Following the outbreak of the Second World War he joined the Local Defence Volunteers and was appointed Major in ‘H’ Company 10th Devon (Torbay) Battalion, Home Guard on 25 June 1941 and was awarded the Defence Medal. In civilian life he was the Secretary and Director of his families Steamboat Company and held many public appointments including Deputy Mayor of Torquay Town Council; Chairman of the Torquay Branch of the British Legion; and Commodore of the Torquay Corinthian Yacht Club. He died in Torquay on 11 April 1953, aged 67.

Sold with copied research.