George Ball was born on 24th March 1893 in Acton Grange, the son of William Ball (born in Norley) and his wife Elizabeth (nee Clarke) who was also born in Norley. In 1893, Daresbury All Saints was the district church for one part of Acton Grange and St. John the Evangelist in Walton was the same for the other part.
In 1901, George was living with his parents at The Square in Daresbury village, his father being employed as a teamster, a driver of a team of animals on a farm. George’s siblings were Joseph (18), Emily (12) and Elizabeth (4).
During the next decade his mother died and his father married again in 1903. George’s siblings had by now either married or were living away from home and in the 1911 Census 18-year old George was at home in Hatton Village with his father and stepmother Maria. His father was working as a waggoner, a driver of animals pulling a vehicle on a farm. George was a farm labourer.
George enlisted at Preston in December 1915 and was assigned to General Service. His occupation was given as labourer (starred).This meant that he was not to be accepted or solicited for military service at that time. He was 23 years and 9 months old. On 8th December 1916, when examined again, he was a telegraph worker (reserve). In November 1917 he was posted as a driver to the Royal Field Artillery 9th Reserve Battery. He had the service number 247525. It was not until June 1918 that he was posted to France, after training at Aldershot (and attendance at the Cambridge Hospital in that town for an ear problem). He was recorded as an absent voter in Hatton that year.
In early January 1919 George was put on a wireman’s course with 325 Electrical and Mechanical Company. This was with the Royal Engineers at Beauval in France, whilst still in 6C Reserve Brigade Royal Field Artillery Battery. He transferred to the Royal Engineers in March 1919 and took the rank of Sapper and the service number 363578. He was still an absent voter in Hatton in 1919 but was demobilized in November that year. He was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
On 13th September 1922 George married Martha Ann Houghton (nee Partington), who was the widow of James Houghton, a Hatton soldier who had been killed in action in 1917. She was the sister of Albert Partington, who also served in the Great War. They had one daughter, Gladys, who was born in 1923, but sadly Martha Ann died on 17th April that year (aged 31 years) and was buried at Daresbury three days later.
According to the 1939 Register George was living at the home of his sister Emily Isherwood and her family at Hewitt’s cottages in Hatton. He was working as a repair man for the London, Midland and Scottish Railway Telegraph Engineers Department
He continued to live at Hewitt’s Cottages and enjoyed playing bowls and billiards in his spare time. He worshipped at All Saints’ Church, Daresbury and also at St. Luke’s Mission in Hatton.
George died on 12th August 1962 at Dutton Hospital and was buried at Daresbury three days later. He was 69 years old.