Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
John Robert Snowball was born at Willington, County Durham one of 5 children he was the 2nd born of 3 sons, he had 1 elder and 1 younger sister, also a half-sister.
His father Robert Snowball native of Chester-le-Street, County Durham born 1859 married in 1890 in the district of Bishop Auckland to Mary Elizabeth Pearse born 1856 at Easington, County Durham. Mary Elizabeth had a daughter Ada Isabella born 1885 at Willington, County Durham, however she never lived with Robert and Mary after their marriage. In 1891 she is listed as a visitor in the home of Henry and Elizabeth Dobson both 66 years of age, living at Quarry Burn, Hunwick and Helmington, near Bishop Auckland, they later officially adopted her as their daughter. Robert and Mary newly married in 1891 had settled at 5, Rutters Yard, Willington with their 5-month old son Thomas Henry where Robert was employed as a bricklayer’s labourer. A daughter Frances Annie was born in 1892, John Robert 1894, Beatrice 1896 and Edward Cornelius 1899. As the family grew they moved to 64, Commercial Street and Robert began working at the colliery as a labourer below ground, later Joseph Henry (20) found work at a brick manufacturers as a labourer while John Robert (17) was employed as a draper’s assistant.
John Robert Snowball enlisted November 5th 1915 at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland assigned as Private 10873 to the Army Cyclist Corp joining them at Hounslow, Borough of London on the 17th. The corps was used in the operation of coastal defences and considered so important as not to be sent overseas, however this changed and they soon provided drafts of men for the front. To this effect Private Snowball was transferred to the Durham Light infantry December 11th 1916 as Private 52722 and departed for the Western Front the following day attached to the 13th Battalion, however by the 16th he had joined the 12th Battalion 23rd Division in the field on the Ypres salient in Belgium. In June 1917 a series of mines were exploded under the German trenches on Messines Ridge after which the 12th Battalion took part in the advance taking Impartial Trench with the loss of 15 men. It was not until September 1917 that they saw front line action again during the Third Battle of Ypres, fighting on the Menin Road. By October as part of the combined French and British Force they were sent to northern Italy to assist the Italian Army who had been defeated by the Austrian and German forces at Caporello and were threatening Venice. He was taken by the 69th Field Ambulance to the 39th Casualty Clearing Station, August 4th 1918 then on to the 62nd General Hospital suffering with appendicitis, he did not re-join his unit until October 21st 1918. Private 52722 John Robert Snowball was killed in action 8 days later, October 29th 1918, his body buried on the battlefield by his comrades, marked with a cross bearing his military details.
His mother Mary Elizabeth received all monies due to him, a pension and his personal items consisting of photos, newspaper, knitting…illegible…sent to her at 3, Co-operative, Terrace Willington, County Durham. During his long term service with the 12th Battalion Private Snowball was awarded the Military Medal for bravery in battle on land and gazetted January 1st 1918, he was also the recipient of the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Mary Elizabeth now living at 1, Salisbury Terrace, Low Willington received a letter from the Army Records Office dated October 24th 1919 which reds, “I beg to inform you that it has been necessary to exhume the remains of the late No. 52722 Private J. Snowball , 12th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry, for proper burial at Tezze British Cemetery, 4 miles south south east of Conegliano, Italy. The new grave has been duly marked with a cross bearing the late soldier’s particulars. The removal was undertaken with every measure of care and reverence, and the re-interment conducted by an Army chaplain. I am Your obedient Servant”. Private John Robert Snowball M.M. is at rest Plot Vi. A. 13. At the time of his demise he was 25 years old and single. His mother commissioned and paid for an additional inscription to be added to his military headstone, it reads, ”Blessed Are The Departed Who In The Lord Are Sleeping”.
Robert Snowball died in 1930 aged 71 years, his wife Mary Elizabeth Snowball nee Pearse aged 87 years in 1943, both registered in the district of County Durham.
The CWGC has listed Private Snowball as 104th Battalion D.L.I. which has never existed.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
He is remembered in Willington on W120.02 and W120.03 and in the D.L.I. Book of Remembrance page 299
