Albert Ball - drawing by Jamie. Detail from an original image
that can be seen at: http://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/History-project-inspired-514-scholars-joined/story-22065802-detail/story.html
Source: File: Albert
and the motobike.jpg, 2015. Second Lieutenant Albert in the North Midlands Divisional Cyclist
Company. 21 March 1915. [online] Available at: <http://albertball.homestead.com/Gallery7.html>
[Accessed: 21 March 2015].
i The Quiet Boy
Perhaps known most for its medieval outlaws
and skilled manufacturers of Victorian lace -
Nottingham, where one child that would grow
To be called an 'ace,' in the first century’s war.
The father, whose
birth name he was given - once
Popularised by Queen
Victoria's Prince Consort -
Albert. An
ambitious businessman of Nottingham,
Who raised his
occupation from plumber to mayor
Of his city - a
man who worked his way to prosperity,
In profession of
land dealer and owner of property.
Such progression
for a Victorian man was a radical
Success - in
ability to raise his family to middle class
Status. Albert the
father, proved himself with address
Changes - and by
1893 progress led the Ball family
To 301 Lenton
Boulevard - three years later a son
Was born to be
given his father's name, Albert Ball.
Harriet and
Albert senior continued to move about
The streets - as
in 1900 to Sherwin Lodge and finally
To 43 Lenton Road, Sedgely House. They arrived
Inside the
Park in a high gabled home with views
Of Nottingham canal
and the Castle Meadows - while
An older sister
had died young, Albert was joined by
Cyril and Lois, all
to be reared into the middle class.
Education for
Albert progressed with his prowess
For practical
subjects - He moved from Lenton Church
To Grantham
Grammar schools and then onwards
To Nottingham
High School - until January 1911,
Aged 14 Albert
arrived at Trent College, Long Eaton.
Not
possessing great academic ability, young Albert
Preferred
carpentry, wood modeling, playing violin
With a keen
eye for photography - At age of 17
Albert Ball was a
young man for the modern age,
With talent for
mechanics - with parental support
At home Albert had space of a shed, with time spent
At home Albert had space of a shed, with time spent
To understand
engines and electrical equipment.
One ability, that
Albert senior taught Albert Junior
At Sedgely was the skill of
shooting - In developing
A good eye Albert
became a crack shot - to prove
Useful within a
few short years. This young boy
Also possessed a
self sense of religion that did not
Hinder his urge
for daring adventures - on his 16th
Birthday Albert,
with a steeplejack, climbed up atop
A tall factory
chimney, without showing sign of fear;
Belied a quiet
shy boy, happy in his own company.
Albert
Ball at school had been a scout patrol leader -
Possibly not
standing out too much being five foot
Six inches with a
stocky build - although his features
Were modern for
his time, with a complexion to make
Girl’s envy -
with dark eyes and thick dark hair, Albert
At seventeen in
1913, was ready for a pin up status.
ii The Loyal Boy
Devoted and close
to his father mother and God,
Albert had
already had something of a history.
Of daring, when
at the age of five he nearly died.
Playing along in
his nursery Albert lit matches
Promptly setting
fire to the room. Proud parents
Of their grown
boy had watched their son from
Their home, as
they observed him sail a boat
Down the canal
that he had built at college - yet
Another incident
had occurred on a family holiday.
One summer at
skegness, Lincolnshire, an eager
Albert Ball had
built himself a raft - to continue
All night to
complete the structure - which he took
Next day to
launch on the sea. Out from shore
Led him to
difficulties and Albert had to swim home
The abandoned craft, later brought in by fishermen.
Seemingly born
with an enquiring mind he left school,
Stating how he
wanted to be an electrical engineer
He had foresight
for the future trade and with fathers
Help secured a
place at Universal Engineering works -
Next to their
home - from shed to industry all seemed
In place for the
lad in 1913, until war broke in 1914.
Albert, ever
eager for new adventure, was ready
To serve - at Trent College having been a member
Officers Training
Corps, made for a good candidate.
At that time his
Uncle Frederick was Mayor -
Albert's mother acting
Mayoress - all to attend forces
Recruiting meeting, in presence of Duke of Portland.
How could an
18-year-old Albert Ball not resist?
He joined 2/7th
Sherwood Foresters City Battalion,
Nottinghamshire
and Derbyshire Regiment - to start
Training at
Wollaton and Derby Road Drill Hall.
With his ability
and quiet confidence, Albert soon
Became Sergeant
Ball - his eagerness and likely
Encouragement led
to application for a commission.
When by October 1914, stood Second Lieutenant
Albert Ball - freshed faced with the Sherwoods.
Soon frustrations
took over, without any likely sign
Of his getting to
the front - despite needs for men
Out in France and
Belgium, during a harsh winter.
With the new year of
1915 he self created a move
To the front - Albert transferred to North Midlands
Divisional
Cyclist Company - to bike it there perhaps.
iii The Officer
Boy
Talents for all
matters Mechanical led Albert
To be stationed
at Bishops Stotford - quartered
There, the young
officer was to find an incident
Involved him in a
tragedy, amid ranks of the army.
Attached to the
cyclist Corps was Private George
Harrison a
Territorial of the Sherwood Foresters,
Invited to a
supper held by Lieutenant A. Ball,
At the Railway
Hotel, where seven attended event.
The date of
entertainment was 13th March 1915
Arriving an hour
late at 8.30 p.m. Private Harrison
A new recruit of
two months, was in excited state
Having already
had a drink - was also to drink two
Glasses of ale
and three soda whiskies - all poured
By tea total Albert
Ball. At 9 p.m. the supper ended
And the private
in the fresh air was affected Albert
Ball sent two men to help him back to his billets.
Lieutenant Ball
had not seen the Private previously
Drunk, to state he would
have stopped him if known.
Champagne had
also been served between seven
Guests
which Private Harrison did not touch -
A corporal Parkinson had seen Harrison earlier
A corporal Parkinson had seen Harrison earlier
on the
Saturday, when they were going for a shave.
After which, the two men had each drank three ales.
Corporal
Parkinson saw him again at the supper,
And was in the
'same boat,' to drink champagne
Three whiskies
and two beers - at his billet he slept
Sound - A Private Hubbard
as one of the men to help
Harrison back - who, unable to stand, helped him
Onto a straw mattress, undoing his coat and collar -
Promptly being sick, Harrison fell asleep - about
Promptly being sick, Harrison fell asleep - about
Midnight Hubbard
saw the private sleeping deeply.
Sunday morning at
6 a.m. Harrison was found dead.
At an inquest a
Doctor said the man had lain upon
Mattress amid his
vomit, dying some hours before.
An examination said
that he was a healthy man, but
Partial digested
food had been lodged in the larynx,
That had caused
asphyxia resulting in his death.
The coroner’s
verdict was that Lieutenant Ball
Had recklessly
encouraged drinking, being tea-
Total himself -
the officer should have been wise
And discreet, to
refuse more drink to the private
And the corporal
- Lieutenant Albert Ball had not
Realised the
alcohol's effects - he was warned.
Outcome was no
blame imputed to the Lieutenant
Who was a very
inexperienced, ignorant Officer.
The fresh face
Albert around this time had one
Vice, smoking - which he had promised his father
To stop -
possibly to excite him more, was buying
A motorbike -
with £2 profit he sent it back home
To Nottingham -
no doubt believing of its future
Investment -
Along a rocky path Albert Ball had
Trod yet to learn values of military responsibility.
by Jamie Mann.
Source.,1915.
Albert Ball. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, [online] Available at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Ball [Accessed: 21March 2015].
Source.,1915.
Albert Ball V.C. by Dr Denise Amos. The Nottinghamshire Heritage
Gateway,
[online] Available at: http://www.nottsheritagegateway.org.uk/people/albertball.htm
[Accessed: 21 March 2015].
Source.,1915. Albert Ball V.C. February
2012 Meeting Report Speaker - Brian Fernley. The Nottinghamshire Heritage
Gateway,
[online] Available at: http://www.keyworth-history.org.uk/about/reports/1202.html [Accessed: 21 March 2015].
Source.,1915. Albert Ball Junior. Lenton Times. From 'The
Lenton Listener' Issue 14 September - October 1981, [online] Available at: http://www.lentontimes.co.uk/images/gallery/albert_ball/albert_ball_listener_14.htm
[Accessed: 21
March 2015].
Mann, J., 2015. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal
communication, 21 March 2015).
#WW1 #WW1centenary #GreatWar #WW1poem #GreatWar #ww1centenary
#worldwarone #worldwaroneremembered #WW1Nottingham #WW1AlbertBall
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