Photo: Joanne Clark

Charlie (left) and Frederick Balls

HMS Pangbourne IWM Photo

Medal Card

Photo : Cynthia Kent

Frederick Saville Ball, was born in April 1905, at 297 Alice Street, South Shields to Sidney Arthur Balls and his wife Elizabeth Elliott ‘Lily’ nee Dupear. Sidney was born in July August September quarter 1864, Mutford, Garleston, Suffolk, Lily was born in October 1875 at South Shields. They were married on the 31st July 1893 in South Shields and before their marriage in 1891 Elizabeth (known to friends and family as ‘Lily’) was a dressmaker, residing at 8 Stoddart Street, South Shields and Sydney was a Mariner.

The parents had three other children as well as Frederick, they had two sons and a daughter. His sister Lily Lander [Lauder] was born in South Shields, July - September quarter 1902, but died in 1906, Frederick Saville is the younger brother of Charles Ball who was born in 1903 and died 27th November 1942.

His mother Lily died in July 1909 and his father brought up his two young sons Charles and Frederick on his own until he married 1st January 1912, Francis Ellen Blakelock at South Shields. Francis died 5th March in 1926, at 127 Osborne Avenue, South Shields. They had a daughter born in December 1917, Cissie died 1937.

Frederick's father Sydney died in March 1936 at 7 Collingwood Street, South Shields.

Frederick married Evelyn May Brown) 6th August 1935 in South Shields and they had a son Michael in 1936. In September 1939 Evelyn May and Michael are living at 29 Gresford Street, South Shields.

Frederick died of Tuberculosis at 169 Harton Lane, South Shields on the 25th April 1942. After his death Evelyn May Balls married 31st July 1951 John J. Chapman.

His father and his aunts and uncle’s family came from Mutford, Gorleston, Suffolk where his paternal grandfather Charles Balls, was born in 1835 and died in April 1899. He married Isabella King on the 31st August 1856 in Yarmouth. Isabella King, born 1836 also came from Gorleston, Suffolk and died in Cookham, Berkshire in 1894.

Isabella and Charles had the following children all born in Gorleston, Suffolk: Minnie Ellen Francis born July 1857, Margaret Annie born 1859; Charles Frederick born 1861; Ella Richmond born 1863; Rosa May born 1867; Maud Isabella born 1869; and Sidney Arthur (his father) born in 1864.

Frederick’s mother’s parents and family were from the North East coast, his maternal grandfather John Dupear was born in 1837 in South Shields. He married Lucy Lambert on the 23rd June 1873 in St Mary's Church, Tyne Dock, South Shields. Lucy Lambert was born in 1841 in Sunderland and died in South Shields in April 1908.

Lucy Lambert and John Dupear had the following children: Elizabeth Elliott born 1875; Kate Kearney born 1881 and died 1924 in South Shields. John born 1882 in Alnwick and died 1940 in Sunderland; Henry Lambert also born 1882 in Alnwick, died in March 1957 in County Durham; and Mary Ann E born 1878.

This is some of his Naval Record details:

Frederick Saville Ball Royal Naval Record

8th May 1925 –29th Sept 1925. HMS Victory (Portsmouth Naval Base).
30th Sept – 7th May 1926. HMS Leamington (Mine Sweeper).
8th May – 14th Oct 1926. HMS Leamington
15th Oct – 21st Mar 1927.HMS Leamington.
22nd Mar – 16th Sept 1927. HMS Pangbourne (Mine Sweeper).
17th Sept – 20th Sept 1927. HMS Victory
21st Sept – 7th Aug 1929. HMS Victory
8th Aug – 30th Sept 1929. ?
1st Oct – 20th Nov 1931. HMS Somme (Destroyer)
21st Nov – 30th June 1933. HMS Suffolk (Heavy Cruiser)
1st July – 18th Oct 1933. HMS Victory
19th Oct – 30th Apr 1934. HMS Excellent (Shore Base?).
1st May – 1st Dec 1934. HMS Douglas (Destroyer)
2nd Dec – 1st Feb 1935. HMS Douglas
2nd Feb – 14th Nov 1935. HMS Victory
15th Nov – 1st Dec 1935. HMS Penzance (Sloop Torpedoed 1940 by U-Boat 37).
2nd Dec – 15th May 1938. HMS Penzance
16th May - 16th May 1938.HMS Penzance
17th May – 28th Sept 1938. HMS Victory
29th Sept – 20th Oct 1938. HMS Despatch (Light Cruiser)
21st Oct – 28th Oct 1938. HMS Despatch.
29th Oct – 2nd Dec 1938. HMS Victory
3rd Dec – 31st Dec 1938. HMS Argus (Aircraft Carrier).
1st Jan 1939 – 31st Mar. HMS Courageous (Aircraft Carrier)
1st Apr – 16th May 1939. HMS Argus.
17th May – 31st Oct 1939. HMS Victory.
1st Nov – 4th Nov 1939. (Accounting Section?)
5th Nov – 27th Feb 1941. (Accounting Section?)
1st Mar – 31st Mar 1941. HMS Victory
1st Apr – 25th Aug 1941. HMS Victory (Physically Unfit for Service).

Frederick Balls died of Tuberculosis at 169 Harton Lane, South Shields on the 25th April 1942 in South Shields, Durham, England

Frederick Ball was awarded the Royal Navy Long Service and Good Conduct Medal for 1935 to 1944. Folio number 412.

His headstone came from P. H. Smith of 99 Easton Street, Portland, Dorset, Contract Number 1948/21.

Frederick Balls started to drop the 's' from his surname.

Research: Cynthia Kent/James Pasby

Acknowledgments: Joanne Clarke

Frederick Balls is not remembered on a North East War Memorial.

HMS Pangbourne: photo IWM Museum
H.M.S. Courageous Association
HMS Argus details
The CWGC entry for Stoker Balls