Lives of the First World War

Private 203310, Charles Ball, 10th Bn. The Worcestershire Regiment. Charles Ball was born in 1876 to Frederick and Eliza Ann Ball who lived in Gorran Haven, Cornwall. He started work as an agricultural labourer. A tall strong man, he was recalled as a gentle giant with a beautiful singing voice. He was aged 38 in 1914, already married to Laura with one daughter Ena Maud. He did heavy work as a road man for the local council and also for Squire Tremayne at Heligan Gardens, repairing the drives. He left his signature in the Thunderbox Room (gardeners’ toilet) at Heligan beside the date 1914. Charles Ball joined the 10 Battalion, The Worcester Regiment and was serving near Bapaume on the Somme. He gave his life on 3rd April 1918 and is buried at Etaples Military Cemetery. The war service of The Gardeners of Heligan House is separately acknowledged in the Imperial War Museum’s register of war memorials. Visit www.ukniwm.org/63622 for further details. The Lost Gardens of Heligan, Cornwall,