No. 10703, Guardsman, John BALLS
Aged 22
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John Balls was born in 1896 in Flempton (Thingoe Q4-1896 4A:810), son of William Christopher and Mary Ann BALLS (née ROLFE).
1901 census...Aged 4, he was at Flempton Street with his father William C BALLS [49] labourer at sewerage works; his mother Mary A [41] born West Stow; brother Robert [16] shepherd's labourer; sisters Beatrice [13], Bertha [11], Ethel [9], May [6] and Dinah [2]. All except his mother were born in Flempton. 1911 census...Aged 14, a golf attendant, he was at Flempton with his parents; grandfather William ROLFE [92](born North Stow); sisters Dinah, Violet [9] and brother Alfred [6] both born in Flempton. One sibling of his 11 siblings had died. The family were later at Brake a Pin Farm, Flempton. The pension card has him as Jack, and mother Mary Ann in Flempton |
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He enlisted in Bury St.Edmunds, apparently under age, before the war as he was in France by September 1914, indicating a regular soldier,
his regimental number suggests early 1914.
The battalion diary is very comprehensive for this time. They were at LE PARADIS, in trenches and picketting the Estaires-Outtersteen Road. On the 12th had 14 OR killed, 77 wounded and 9 missing. Then on the 13th, having tried to re-adjust the line not completed by dawn due to enemy fire. At day break enemy armoured car gave trouble by driving up to K.10.d.2.3. and using machine gun fire on our posts. 6.30 am enemy attack developed on centre and left coys - successfully on right but by aid of ? he penetrated between left and centre coys and gained L'EPINETTE FARM. Left Coy fell back on the G.G. and K.S.B Gap of 400 yards left at this time between left coy and DCLI just SE of ARREWAGE which no 1 coy (30 men in all) attempted to fill. Nos 2 and 3 Coy left with flanks exposed and enemy working round them. These Coys held on until surrounded on 3 sides and the attempted to fight their way back. Very few succeeded. Meanwhile left coy heavily attacked by enemy at LE CORNET PERDU. This attack however was heavily repulsed. 2 pm Brigade front reported to be broken, 12th KOYLI having been forced to retire and enemy having penetrated our line to the left of the 4th G.G., the latter were thus completely cut off. Our No 4 Coy being in the same trench as the 4th G.G. were completely cut off. Battn HQ now moved to Fm at CAUDESOURE and their line was then re-established as near parallel with an E of the FM BEAULIUE - ARREWAGE Rd. At dusk remnants of battalion (about 40 men) collected and held E and S fences of orchards at extreme SE of ARREWAGE. Quiet night, rations Casualties for the day Missing 7 officers {named} O Ranks K in A 17, Wd 84, M 259. In the cold light of day, and after the battle, CWGC recorded 111 killed, 99 of which have no known grave, being named on the Ploegsteert memorial The German Spring Offensive, the Kaiserschlacht, which began on 21st March 1918 came close to success for the German, their last gasp attempt to win the war. Fortunately after some initial success they were held and Allied losses were able to be replaced, whereas theirs were not, hence the eventually Allied victory.   photo: Rodney Gibson click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
