No.3/8919, Private, Harry BALLS
Aged 22
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Harry Balls was born in Upper Holloway Workhouse in 14th September (3rd qtr 1894 Islington 1b:243), son of Jane BALLS.
She married William PAYNE in 1898 in Pakenham, who adopted both of her sons.
1901 census...Aged 6, he was at Windmill Road, Pakenham with his step-father William PAYNE [32] farm labourer born Ixworth; his mother Jayne [29] born Pakenham; brother Alphonso [4] born Bury St. Edmunds; half sisters Alice E PAYNE [2] and Daisy F PAYNE[10 months] both born Pakenham. 1911 census...Aged 16, a farm labourer, he was at The Fen, Pakenham with his step-father; mother; brother Alphnonso (farm labourer); half sisters Alice, Daisy and May [8]; half brothers William [6] and Jack[1]. All the new siblings were born in Pakenham. On the pension card his mother was at The Fen, Pakenham. One unsolved mystery is, why he is named on the Pakenham memorial as BALLS and his brother as PAYNE ? His brother Alphonso (Alfred) (aka Alfred Payne) died of wounds in France in 1918 see here |
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He enlisted in Bury St.Edmunds
It was the 1st battle of the Somme. Harry escaped the carnage of the first day of the battle but fell 12 days later as the 2nd Suffolks were fighting around Carnoy. Battalion War Diary for 12th July 1916 has:- "Battn march to MINE SUPPORT and BRESLAU trenches from CARNOY, less 2 Coys at Carnoy Employed on carrying parties and filling in MINE ALLEY and Improving MONTAUBAN-CARNOY road for trsaffic. Dug communcaition trench to CATERPILLAR VALLEY. 2 Coys return in line by 13th.
click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
