Swordfish wrote:Hello Gardener,
Thank you for your reply. I hadn't realised that conscription began in 1916, so that answers one of my queries.
I have found him on the 1891 Census living with his siblings and parents Samuel and Ann Ballard in Birmingham. In 1901 he is living in Birmingham with his mother and siblings and is recorded as William Ballard not Thomas William.
His birth was registered as Thomas William Ballard 1884 Aston.
Thank you.
so you have this
1891
Samuel Ballard 33 brass tape dresser
Ann Ballard 32
Agnes Ballard 12
Rose Ballard 10
Samuel Ballard 9
Thomas Ballard 7
Joseph Ballard 3
1901
Rose Meredith 50
Aron Ballard 42 (is actually ANN)
Rose Ballard 20
Samuel Ballard 18
William Ballard 17 metal cleaner
Joseph Ballard 13
Rose Simpson 7
there is this marriage
Name: William Thomas Ballant
[William Thomas Ballard]
Gender: Male
Birth Year: abt 1882
Marriage Date: 14 Nov 1903
Marriage Age: 21
Marriage Place: Birmingham, Bishop Ryder, Warwickshire, England
Spouse: Florence Allsopp
Spouse Gender: Female
Spouse Marriage Age: 20
Father: Samuel Ballard
Spouse's Father: Willliam Allsopp
Reference Number: DRO 30
Archive Roll: 581
Samuel Ballard (father of groom) is down as a brass turner
William Thomas Ballard is down as a metal cleaner
which seems to fit other than his age
1911
22 Court 7 House Heneage St Birmingham
William Ballard 27 strip castor
Florence Ballard 27
William Ballard 5
Gauanel Ballard 3 (Samuel?)
Name: William Ballard
Gender: Male
Birth Date: abt 1884
Birth Place: Birmingham, Warwickshire, England
Marriage Date: 14 Nov 1903
Marriage Place: Bishop Register Birmingham
Age: 18
Document Year: 1902
Regimental Number: 8732
Regiment Name: Royal Warwickshire Regiment
Form Title: Short Service Attestation
Number of Images: 14
William Ballard Self (Head)
Florence Allsopp Spouse
William Joseph Ballard Child
Samuel Ballard Child
He seems to have joined the army in 1902, for short service until 1905. Then rejoined in 1914 and served through the war including at Ypres. Joined in Dublin in 1902 "apparent age 18 years and 9 months". Discharged surplus to requirements in 1919. His records are on Ancestry and they include his eye/hair colour and stuff.