Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

1914-15 Star (K.23001, A. W. Ball Sto. 1. R.N.) nearly extremely fine £70-90

Ambrose William Ball was born in Swindon, Wiltshire, on 15 April 1892, and joined the Royal Navy as a Stoker Second Class on 14 July 1914. Promoted to Stoker First Class on 2 September 1915, he was posted to H.M.S. Nomad, and was present at the Battle of Jutland, 31 May to 1 June 1916, when the Nomad, together with H.M.S. Nestor and H.M.S. Nicotar, launched an attack on the German Battle Cruisers; both Nestor and Nomad were sunk in the ensuing action, with the captain of the former, Commander the Hon. Edward Bingham, being awarded the Victoria Cross for his gallantry in leading the attack. Lieutenant-Commander Paul Whitfield, the Captain of the Nomad, was recommended for promotion after leading ‘a most gallant attack’ on German Battlecruisers during the Battle. The surviving crews of both ships were picked up by German Torpedo Boats.
Ball was one of only 177 British Seamen who became Prisoners of War following the Battle of Jutland. Repatriated on the cessation of hostilities, he was invalided out of the Royal Navy on 14 January 1920.