The Soldier's Details

Please read Bill Struther’s account of life at Ubon POW Camp, 1945

 

Leo was born 1905 Bendigo, Victoria.  His mother died at Merredin 1924.  His father was employed Merredin WAGR as a ganger and at the time of his mother’s death his sister Annie was married to Roy Ellefsen who played football and competed in cycling with Leo.

 

Below: Leo’s young niece and daughter of his sister Annie died April 1930.

 

Below:  Leo’s sister Annie died Mar 1938.  Annie was then mother to four children.

 

Below:  Leo’s father died Jan 1941.  He had remarried since Leo’s mother’s death in 1924.

 

 

Above: Leo’s father died Jan 1941 whilst visiting Perth from Merredin. He had fallen on steps.  He was 73 years of age. Leo was able to attend his father’s funeral.

 

Below:  Later in 1941, during September, Leo’s nephew Frank Ellefsen aged 15 years died.

 

 

Leo enlisted AIF 6 Aug 1940 and later joined 2/4th’s Headquarters Company No 3 Platoon Administrative as a butcher under command of Quartermaster Capt Phelps.

As a POW at Singapore Leo left by train to work on the Burma-Thai Railway with ‘D’ Force V Battalion.  This work force would endure appallingly work and living conditions, separated from the rest of ‘D’ Force.  The death rate was very high.

He was recovered from Ubon POW Camp at the end of the war.

Returning from war, Leo resided 1949 and 1958 at 149 Aberdeen Street, Perth working as a butcher.  The Electoral Rolls of 1968, 1977 and 1980 show he was residing Sydneyham Street, Belmont and now working for WAGR.

Leo died 25 Oct 1980 at Belmont aged 75 years.  He was cremated at Karrakatta Cemetery.

Below:  Leo has recorded Mrs Reid, foster mother as his NOK.  His closest family members had predeceased him, his mother in 1924, his father in 1941 and his sister Annie in 1938.

 

 

 

SPORTING INTERESTS

Below:  Leo with his brother-in-law Roy Ellefsen with Merredin’s cycling competition.

 

Below:  Leo and Roy Ellefsen 1925

 

 

 

 

Below:  Leo is now umpiring in 1935.

Below:  Merredin Fire Brigade 1936

 

 

 

Leo Ball died at Belmont 2 Oct 1980 and was cremated at Karrakatta Cemetery.  He was 75 years old.