In South Shields (Harton) Cemetery is the Commonwealth War Grave of:

F.S. Ball
Stoker Petty Officer
P/K. 66168
Royal Navy
26th April 1942 age 37

In loving memory.
Peace at last.

The son of Sydney Arthur and Lily Ball, of South Shields and the husband of Evelyn May Ball, of South Shields.

Frederick Saville Ball, was born on the 11th April 1905, the youngest of four children at 297 Alice Street, South Shields to father Sidney Arthur Balls, born 1873, died in March 1936 at 7 Collingwood Street, South Shields, and his wife Elizabeth Elliott Lily nee Dupear, died 1909. They were married on the 31st July 1893 in South Shields.

The other children were: –

• Sydney Arthur Balls, born 5th April 1894, died 1960, in 1921, he was a Watchman employed by Mr A. Mitchell, at Prudhoe Street, North Shields, for the Bosnia, ship number 144619, at Bill Quay Buoys, Pelaw on Tyne, he married Maud Victoria Brown, born 17th June 1897, died in 1991 in Jarrow. in 1919, in South Shields, in 1939, Sidney and Maud were residing with their three children and one redacted record, at 108, Talbot Road, South Shields. Sidney was a Chipper and Painter, and an A.R.P. Warden during WW2. Sidney’s brother Charles, was also at the home and was a Ship’s Assistant and Cook, Maud Victoria Balls re-married David Small Cunningham, born 15th September 1902, in 1963, in South Shields; David Small Cunningham died, aged 72, in 1975, in South Shields; Maud Victoria Cunningham died, aged 94, in 1991, in Jarrow, Co Durham.
• Charles Ball, was born 20th November 1904, in 1939 was residing at 108, Talbot Road, South Shields, died 27th November 1942.
• Lily Lander Balls was born in 1902 baptised on the 17th August 1902, died June 1906.and sadly died in 1906.

After Elizabeth’s death, Sydney Arthur Ball married a Frances Ellen. nee Blakelock in 1912, baptised 22nd April 1877, in Monk-Heselden, Durham, to Christopher George Blakelock and Sarah [nee Barkhouse].

Sidney was born in 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.

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 married Evelyn May nee Brown, born 8th August 1905, baptised on 10th September 1905, St. Michael’s Church, South Westoe, on the 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. [she was the daughter of to Robert Henry Brown and Barbara Isabella {nee Blakelock]. In 1939, Evelyn May Ball, was residing at 29, Gresford Street, South Shields, and there was also a redacted record at the home.

Frederick died of Tuberculosis at 169 Harton Lane, South Shields on the 25th April 1942. After his death Evelyn May Balls re-married 31st July 1951 John J. Chapman. in 1989. Evelyn May Chapman, died, aged 83, in 1989 in South Shields.

His father and his aunt’s 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.

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 Ball died of Tuberculosis at 169 Harton Lane, South Shields on the 25th April 1942.

Frederick Ball was awarded the Royal Navy Long Service and Good Conduct Medal for 1935 to 1944. Folio number 412. He also started to drop the ‘s’ from his surname.

Research: Cynthia Kent/James Pasby; The National Archives; The Newspaper Archive; Joanne Clarke;

Frederick Ball is not remembered on a North East War Memorial, but is remembered in our List of Ship’s Crew.