Born in Brockley, Kent, England on 25 January 1884, Harry Ballard was educated at Mercers School, London, and London University. He became a teacher at Williston High School, Clerk’s College, London, and Skerry’s College, London, the last specializing in preparing for the English Civil Service.
A few months before war was declared he came to Canada and was briefly an instructor at St George’s Residential School at Lytton, BC. He enlisted at Kamloops, BC, in June 1915, in the 102nd, later known as the 54th Battalion, Kootenay Regiment. He proceeded to England in November 1915 and as Lance-Sergeant married Dorothy Maud Gellen on 6 January 1916 in Stoke Newington, London. Crossing to France in August he was evacuated to a hospital in England in December 1916 suffering from trench foot.
When he recovered he was transferred to the Canadian Army Pay Corps Milbank, London, and engaged in investigation work serving as Sergeant. He returned to Canada and was discharged in Victoria BC on July 7th, 1919. Employed by the information and service branch of the department of soldiers’ civil reestablishment in Victoria, in September 1919 he successfully passed the Examination for Junior Examiner of the Civil Service Commission of Canada, coming to Ottawa in January 1920.
He died age 38 of ulcers on 11 July 1921 leaving his wife and two small children, Maurice and Jean, residing at 90 Charlotte Street, and is buried in military section 29. 13-14 at Beechwood Cemetery.
I’m not a football fan, but notice that Team England will be playing Team Italy on Sunday. It seems to be a big deal!
This week FMP expands the collection for those with interests in India or the Caribbean islands of St Kitts & Nevis.
Signatures
Welsh Anglican Church records of Baptisms, Marriages and Burials have been updated on Ancestry — no indication of whether major or minor.