Walter James Ballard (bef. 1873 - 1918)

Born before 30 Sep 1873 in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, England, United Kingdom

Died 30 Mar 1918 after age 44 in Colincamps, Somme, Picardie, France

Biography

Walter Ballard is an Anzac who served in World War One.

Walter Ballard was Killed in Action during World War I.

This profile is part of the Ballard Name Study.

Walter James Ballard was born before 30 September 1873 in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, England, United Kingdom, son of James Ballard (~1842–1922) and Emily Patrick (1841–1898).^[1]

Walter and his parents and sister Constance sailed on the Strathnaver leaving London on 1 June 1874 and arriving in Wellington on 31 August 1874^[2]

Walter attested on 27 June 1916 as a Private #28648 in the 2nd Aukland Company and listed his employment as a fruitgrower employed by W Whitbread & living at Waimana Borthcote Auckland. He was a Methodist. His date & place of birth is given as 13 Sep 1887, Nelson, NZ and is clearly intended to reduce his age to allow him to fight! His next of kin is shown as his father James Ballard of 138 Hardy Street Nelson but he was not found at that address & instead his medals were sent to his sister Constance Emma Johnson at 136 Hardy Street Nelson. Walter's Will also made out to her. There is no wife or child listed on his record.^[3][4]

Walter was killed in action on 30 March 1918 very probably near Colincamp during the rebuttal of Operation Michael during the Spring Offensive. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission record states that he was aged 40 (actually 44) & the son of the late James and Emily Ballard. Born at Nelson. He is commemorated on GREVILLERS (NEW ZEALAND) MEMORIAL, Pas de Calais, France.^[5]

Sources

1. ↑ Birth Registration: "England & Wales General Register Office"
   GRO Online Indexes - Birth (accessed 24 September 2023)
   Ballard, Walter James (Mother's maiden name: Patrick).
   GRO Reference: 1873 Jul-Aug-Sep in Hitchin Volume 03A Page 320.
2. ↑ Passenger List: "New Zealand, Archives New Zealand, Passenger Lists, 1839-1973"
   citing ship , Archives New Zealand, Wellington; FHL microfilm 004412287
   FamilySearch Record: FSTL-KPK (accessed 24 September 2023)
   FamilySearch Image: S3HT-DY33-945 Image number 00012
   Name: Walter J Ballard; Immigration Date: 31 Aug 1874; Immigration Place: Wellington, New Zealand; Emigration Date: 1 Jun 1874; Emigration Place: Wellington; Nationality: Bucks; Age Months: 9; Arrival Port: Wellington; Misc Name Ship Orig: Strathnaver; Source Record Nbr: 183.
3. ↑ Archives New Zealand: R22275323 BALLARD, Walter James - WW1 28648 - Army
4. ↑ 1918 Newspaper: "Papers Past, National Library of New Zealand"
   Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LII, Issue 87, 16 April 1918, Page 4
   Papers Past Article (accessed 24 September 2023)
5. ↑ Commonwealth War Graves Commission