Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Private S. Ball, 10th Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment, who was killed in action on the First Day of the Battle of the Somme, 1 July 1916, on which date his battalion suffered over 750 officers and men killed or wounded, the greatest number of casualties to a single battalion on the first day of the Battle

1914-15 Star (14275 Pte. S. Ball. W. York: R.); British War and Victory Medals (14275 Pte. S. Ball. W. York. R.) nearly extremely fine (3) £400-£500

Sydney Ball was born in Leeds and attested there for the West Yorkshire Regiment. He served with the 10th Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 13 March 1915, and was killed in action on the first day of the Battle of the Somme, 1 July 1916. On this date the Battalion was involved in an attack on Fricourt. Two companies moved forward at zero hours on the left of the assault, and cleared the enemy front lines with little loss. The supporting companies, however, met heavy fire, machine-guns having been brought from the dug-outs. The Regimental history records that the latter were almost annihilated, with total casualties of 22 officers and approximately 750 other ranks, the most casualties of any Battalion on the first day of the Battle of the Somme.

Ball has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France.

Sold with copied Medal Index Card and Battalion War Diary extract.