Harold Ball was captured, tortured, and executed on 9 February 1942 by the Japanese, during their assault on Singapore that began on 8 January 1942.
15 Facts About Harold Ball
1.
2.
The son of George Henry Ball, an engine driver, and Daisy Alma Ball, nee Wellington, Ball was born in Mildura, on 29 May 1920.
3.
Harold Ball played his first senior VFL game for Melbourne, aged 18, in the first ruck against Jack Dyer and Percy Bentley of Richmond at their peak, at the MCG, on Saturday 22 April 1939.
4.
Harold Ball marked and rucked well in a side that lost by 37 points to Richmond, 11.18 to 17.19.
5.
Harold Ball played in all of Melbourne's 20 VFL matches in 1939, kicked 30 goals, received three Brownlow Medal votes, was voted best first-year player at Melbourne, and played in the second ruck for the team that won the 1939 Grand-Final by 53 points.
6.
Harold Ball played in 13 of the possible 21 senior VFL games for Melbourne in 1940.
7.
On Saturday, 21 September 1940, in the Preliminary Final match against Essendon, which Melbourne won by 5 points, 12.18 to 12.13, Harold Ball was the resting forward pocket ruckman.
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Jack Dyer 8.
Harold Ball played his last VFL game in Melbourne's 1940 Grand Final team, as a back-pocket resting ruckman.
9.
Harold Ball was one of the best players on the ground for the Melbourne team, which unexpectedly beat Richmond by 39 points, 15.17 to 10.8.
10.
Harold Ball first trained as an ambulance driver in Bonegilla, NSW; then, having embarked on 4 February 1941, arrived in Singapore on 18 February 1941.
11.
Harold Ball's unit moved to Port Dickson, where they were trained in transporting the sick and the wounded.
12.
On 8 February 1942, the Japanese began their assault on Singapore, with the Battle of Sarimbun Beach; and Harold Ball's unit was overwhelmed with the task of evacuating the many wounded to a dressing station known as "Hill 80".
13.
Harold Ball was working from a forward dressing station, near the aerodrome at Tengah, and his team were working tirelessly collecting and transporting the wounded.
14.
Harold Ball is buried at the Kranji War Cemetery in Singapore.
15.
Harold Ball's name is located on panel 86 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial.