Ken Ray, a long-time researcher into the lives of local soldiers has assembled an impressive list of North Staffordshire men who served in the Napoleonic Wars, the Crimea and the numerous colonial conflicts Britain participated in during the 19th and early 20th centuries. He has very kindly given me access to some of his documents which chart the lives and careers of ordinary men from the region who might otherwise have been forgotten. This is one of those stories...
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Corporal George Ball, 2nd Life Guards, Napoleonic Wars
Two babies named George Ball were born in Burslem within a year of each other. The first was the son of Charles and Esther Ball of Burslem, who was baptised there on 10th September 1786; and the second, son of Charles and Mary Ball of Burslem was baptised on 12th August 1787. If the several ages given on George Ball's future army documents are correct, then the earliest of these two is likely to be the future soldier, though there is seemingly no way to be absolutely sure.
Young George seems to have received some education (he could write his name) though whether he learnt his letters as a child or whilst in the army is unknown. Before joining the army he did briefly work as a potter, but that is all that is known about his early life save for the fact that on 8th February 1805, he enlisted in the 2nd Life Guards at Newcastle-under-Lyme, aged 19. His service in the regiment was dated from 25th December 1805.
George had joined the army at a critical time during the Napoleonic Wars when it seemed that Britain might possibly be invaded by the hitherto victorious French army. The immediate threat to the country had been crushed by Nelson's decisive victory over the French and Spanish fleets at Trafalgar in October that year, but the country still found itself at bay against a very dangerous enemy. At first, though, there was little Britain could do on land as the continent was largely allied against them. So, for the first few years of his army career George served at home. As a trooper and later corporal of the prestigious Life Guards, part of the sovereign's bodyguard, his lot would have been much better than most recruits to the army or navy at the time and much would have been given over to ceremonial duties.
In 1808, though, things changed, Napoleon invaded Spain and Portugal, prompting a popular uprising in the two countries that Britain quickly moved to support sending troops under Sir John Moore and Sir Arthur Wellesley to help against the French. Though the expedition got off to a near disastrous start, during which Moore lost his life, Wellesley, later ennobled as Lord Wellington, returned at the head of his army and spearheaded the broader campaign against the French occupiers that became known as the Peninsula War (1808-1814).
Many British regiments got drawn into the conflict including the 1st and 2nd Life Guards, who in 1812 sent two squadrons each to Spain. George Ball was one of these men and saw action in two battles, later being awarded clasps for Vittoria (1813) and Toulouse (1814). The 2nd Life Guards also served at the battle of Waterloo in 1815 where they formed part of the front line of the Household Brigade which charged the French cavalry supporting Napoleon's first great attack on the allied line. Together with the simultaneous charge by the Union brigade they effectively smashed the French attack. Like all the soldiers involved in this climactic campaign, Corporal Ball later received the Waterloo Medal.
George Ball continued to serve with the 2nd Life Guards after the war, finally being discharged on 24th January 1828. His discharge was in consequence of him having completed his third term of service and most tellingly he had become too heavy for the regiment. In total, his service amounted to 24 years 136 days (including the 2 years extra service awarded to all Waterloo soldiers). His conduct as a soldier had been good. At the time of his discharge he was described as being 41 years of age, 6 feet tall with dark hair, dark eyes and a dark complexion; we can doubtless assume that he was also rather corpulent.
After this, George Ball vanishes from the record. There is no evidence that he returned to the Potteries and he may instead have settled in London and married. There are several candidates on the 1841 and 1851 censuses who may be our man, but to choose any in particular would be idle speculation. Certainly George survived until 1847 when he applied for his Military General Service Medal with its two Peninsula War clasps, but what life or family he had is unknown, as too is the date of his demise.
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| The 2nd Life Guards in action at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. |
Many British regiments got drawn into the conflict including the 1st and 2nd Life Guards, who in 1812 sent two squadrons each to Spain. George Ball was one of these men and saw action in two battles, later being awarded clasps for Vittoria (1813) and Toulouse (1814). The 2nd Life Guards also served at the battle of Waterloo in 1815 where they formed part of the front line of the Household Brigade which charged the French cavalry supporting Napoleon's first great attack on the allied line. Together with the simultaneous charge by the Union brigade they effectively smashed the French attack. Like all the soldiers involved in this climactic campaign, Corporal Ball later received the Waterloo Medal.
George Ball continued to serve with the 2nd Life Guards after the war, finally being discharged on 24th January 1828. His discharge was in consequence of him having completed his third term of service and most tellingly he had become too heavy for the regiment. In total, his service amounted to 24 years 136 days (including the 2 years extra service awarded to all Waterloo soldiers). His conduct as a soldier had been good. At the time of his discharge he was described as being 41 years of age, 6 feet tall with dark hair, dark eyes and a dark complexion; we can doubtless assume that he was also rather corpulent.
After this, George Ball vanishes from the record. There is no evidence that he returned to the Potteries and he may instead have settled in London and married. There are several candidates on the 1841 and 1851 censuses who may be our man, but to choose any in particular would be idle speculation. Certainly George survived until 1847 when he applied for his Military General Service Medal with its two Peninsula War clasps, but what life or family he had is unknown, as too is the date of his demise.