F Ball (1882 - 1918)

Frederick Ball was the son of Henry Ball, a cabinet maker, and his wife Mary Ann. They lived in Listley Street. By 1901 Henry was working as a grocer on his own account. In 1911, Frederick was working as an assistant in the shop. - now run as a bakers and grocers by his widowed mother.

Frederick enlisted in about February 1915. He served in the 1st Battalion King's Shropshire Light Infantry. He was wounded and taken prisoner on 21/22nd March, 1918, when the 1st KSLI took the full force of the German Spring Offensive. Almost two-thirds of the Battalion became casualties, either killed, wounded or missing. Frederick died of influenza on 7th October, 1918 at a military hospital in Dusseldorf. He is buried in Cologne Southern Cemetery.

Private Ball, 31283, was awarded the Victory and British Medals.

PRISONER OF WAR IN GERMANY
[Bridgnorth Journal, Saturday 11th May, 1918]
31883 Private Frederick Ball, 1st K.S.L.I. youngest son of Mrs. M. A. Ball, 14 Listley Street, Bridgnorth, was posted as missing after an engagement on March 21-22. The Central Prisoners of War Commitee subsequently received the information that he was a prisoner of war in Germany, and a post-card was later received from Pte. Ball stating that he was a prisoner and wounded.