Current Information:

Age-24

West Ealing

Born-Ealing

Bailleul Communal Cemetery, France

On 30th April  1916, 24th Division, were holding the line at Wulverghem, south of Ypres, when, not unexpectedly,  the Germans launched a gas attack.  This was accompanied by heavy rifle and machine gun fire against most of 73 Brigade  and  72 Brigade. 8th Royal West Surrey (Queens) of 72 Brigade were one of the units in the line when this attack took place and they suffered over 100 casualties, mainly as a result of the gas.

The following day, 1st May, 1916, the death rate continued to climb from this gas poisoning and one of the victims was William Ball.