Fallen Soldiers
Walter BALL
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Regiment
Rank / Number
Date of Birth
Date of Death
Grave / Memorial
Rainhill remembers on . . .
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South Lancashire Regiment
Rifleman / 2404
1885
5th May 1915 aged 31
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WWI Memorial in St Ann's Churchyard with the name of Private W. Ball inscribed on it as a soldier of The South Lancashire Regiment.
Born in 1885 Walter lived first with parents Thomas & Mary and four siblings John (21), George (12), Albert (10) & sister Elizabeth Birchall in Holt Lane. Elizabeth’s husband James was also living there.
In 1911 we see 27 year old "Coal Miner-Hewer” Walter still living in Holt Lane. There are also boarders, Isaac Ball (77), Thomas Kenwright
(48), & Thomas Kenwright Junior (15), his cousin Austin Birchall(16) staying at the same address.
It is in this year that Walter marries Catherine Turton at St.Mary’s Parish Church, Prescot.
After enlistment and a period of training, Thomas was sent to France on 13th February 1915. Sadly less than three months later he was injured and died of his wounds on Wednesday 5th May 1915 age 31. He is commemorated on the brass plaque in St. Ann’s Church, the war memorial in the churchyard and the Cenotaph in Warrington Road. Walter is buried at Hazebrouk Communal Cemetery.
Acknowledgement: St.Helens Rolls of Honour