Hi I'm trying to trace a guy listed on the local memorial E(Ernest) A.Ball born Q4 1918. I've spoken to his niece who tells me he was in the Merchant Navy. The only Ernest Ball I can find listed on the CWGC site was aboard HMS Janus which the Service Navy and not Merchant Navy. I appreciate that his niece may be mis-informed - she was only a young girl when he died - but I'm struggling to reconcile the Merchant Navy and Service Navy thing. I'd appreciate some guidance on how to obtain service records for Ernest Ball DSM of the HMS Janus as I want to make sure I get the right detail. Thanks for looking in.
There is a Merchant Navy Ernest D Ball but he was born 1916 Medal listing of Ball, Ernest D Discharge number: R128422 Date of Birth: ... | The National Archives Reference: BT 395/1/4061 Description: Medal listing of Ball, Ernest D Discharge number: R128422 Date of Birth: 18 June 1916 Date: [1946-2002] Held by: The National Archives, Kew Legal status: Public Record(s) Closure status: Open Document, Open Description Access conditions: Open on Transfer Mind you there is another old thread on the same subject - Ernest Ball D.S.M. The Royal Navy man you seem to be chasing is: UK, Commonwealth War Graves, 1914-1921 and 1939-1947 Name: Ernest Ball Age: 25 Birth Date: abt 1919 Death Date: 23 Jan 1944 Cemetery: Naval Memorials In The United Kingdom Portsmouth Part I Burial Country: England Regimental Number: P/SSX 19857 Region or Memorial: Memorial Register Other Records: To obtain copies of his records see the link - Request records of deceased service personnel - GOV.UK TD
what area is the memorial. im sure members will be able to trace the casualties home town service records Get a copy of military service records - GOV.UK Petty OfficerBALL, ERNEST Service Number P/SSX 19857 Died 23/01/1944 Aged 25 H.M.S. Janus Royal Navy D S M Commemorated at PORTSMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL Location: Hampshire, United Kingdom Number of casualties: 24662 Cemetery/memorial reference: Panel 81, Column 2.
