Owen Hedley Balls

A Private with 4th Bn., Owen died on 27th of September 1918 at the age of 27. 

Owen was born at Lowestoft in 1891, a son of Charles Thomas Coleby and Lily Balls. In 1901 his family lived at 20 Alma Road, and this was still their home in 1911 when Owen worked as a grocer's assistant. 

On 20 March 1913 Owen married Annie Florence Rutter at Saint Margaret's Church, Lowestoft. Owen was a grocer living at 12 Alma Road, and Annie lived at 7 Saint Margaret's Road. Their home was at 19 Melbourne Road, Lowestoft.

Owen enlisted in the Army at Norwich. He joined the Royal Fusiliers and served with the 26th Battalion in France from 18 October 1916 to 10 November 1916, when he was posted to the 20th Battalion. On 30 January 1918 he was posted to the 4th Battalion.  

The Battalion War Diary for 27 September has:

Zero hour for big attack was 5.20 a.m. Battalion advanced from assembly position behind 1st Northumberland Fusiliers (left) and 13th Kings (right) at 8.20 a.m. At 9.45 a.m. leading companies were held up by hostile 'M6' mist. The two support companies closed up and all four companies in line advanced together. Surrounded and captured enemy garrison and penetrated into Ribecourt about 10.30 a.m. By 11.30 a.m. the Green Line east and south of Ribecourt had been captured. Machine-gun fire from Highland Ridge on right held up 62nd Brigade who were to pass through and carry on advance.
The Battalion captured 21 machine-guns (two heavy), 4 trench mortars and one howitzer. 
Casualties: Officers one killed; three wounded; one gassed. 
Other ranks 12 killed, including Owen); 69 wounded; 23 gassed; 9 missing. 

Owen's wife's sister, Althea, was married to Albert James who died in 1918 in the loss of the trawler W. A. Massey.

Owen's nephew, Hedley Owen Balls, died in 1942 while serving with H.M.S. Cocker.