Ball E

Miss Ellen Ball

Nurse, Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD), British Red Cross

Date of Birth: 1866
Place of Birth: Wimbledon, Surrey (TBC)

VAD hat badge

Miss Ellen Ball of Glenside, Ringmore, Shaldon, Devon.

Ellen's parents were both born in Ireland. Her father was Thomas Hanly Ball (born c. 1818). Her mother was Elizabeth Bolton Ball (born c. 1824).¹

The 1871 census shows them living at 125 Sandgate Road, Folkestone where Thomas was the Curate of Christchurch.

They had eight daughters and a son present (Amanda, Whillelmine, Caroline, Bessie, Emily, Rosa, Ellen, William and Winifred) and at this point they also has a pupil and two servants living with them (a housemaid and a general servant).

The 1911 census shows Emily living in Glenside in Ringmore, Devon with three of her unmarried sisters (Bepie, Lilian and Emily Jane). Two children are boarding with them.

All of the sisters are shown as having private means of living at this point.

On the 3 September 1916 their nephew 2nd Lieutenant Benedict Hanly Ball of the 3rd Battalion Hampshire Regiment attached 14th Battalion was killed in action at the Somme aged 34.

Ellen was engaged by VAD as a part-time nurse from 15th April 1917 to 19th January 1919. During that time she worked at four Devon hospitals and worked for 1295 hours. Her sister Emily Jane Maude Ball was also a VAD nurse.

Teignmouth Hospitals in WW1

At the start of the Great War the Teignmouth Hospital was located at what had been Alberta Mansions on Myrtle Hill, Dawlish Road.

The Hospital was run on a charitable basis, with the upkeep made possible by donations.

The building that was Teignmouth Hospital during WW1. (Previously called Sion House, Later known as Alberta Mansions) Photo source unknown

There was also an 'Isolation' Hospital in the grounds of Bitton House on Bitton Park Road.

In 1914 There was a mass meeting in the town hall to make arrangements for sick and wounded.

Teignmouth hospital was placed at the disposal of the Red Cross (15 beds) as well as Bitton House.

The local Suffrage Society suspended their political agenda in order to help with the war effort. Appeals were made for nurses with hospital experience, voluntary or paid; cooks, ward maids and any ladies who have a first aid certificate.

In August 1915 the Teignmouth Post mentioned that Teignmouth Hospital had a full complement of wounded soldiers who had come from the European theatre of war.

Wounded soldiers at Teignmouth Hospital. April 1915. Source unknown

The services of a masseur/masseuse were requested to treat some of the severely injured soldiers.

House to house collections were carried out by many volunteers and people were asked to send food or any useful objects to the hospital.

Inverteign house, home of Dr & Mrs Whiteway-Wilkinsons. They opened their home to wounded officers. From the Teign Heritage collection

Several Teignmouth residents offered up their homes as convalescent hospitals.

These included Dr & Mrs Whiteway-Wilkinson who opened up Inverteign House and set aside 8 beds to be used as a home for injured officers.

Lord and Lady Cable gave up the whole of the ground floor of Shute Hill House in Teignmouth for use as a sick bay.

Lord and Lady Cable also purchased the Treverven Estate (on Exeter Road, Teignmouth, (now part of Teignmouth Community School) and opened it as the Everest Hospital for convalescing officers (whilst the Everest Hospital was being built a hut for wounded soldiers was erected in the grounds of the original Teignmouth Hospital). Lady Cable contributed most liberally to its upkeep, their daughter, then Lady Weston Alexander, was matron of the institution.

Everest Officer's Hospital, Teignmouth From the Teign Heritage Collection Everest Officer's Hospital, part of the Treverven Estate (now part of Teignmouth Community School). From the Teign Heritage Collection

Bitton House, Teignmouth. Used by the Army in WW1. Also held a hospital. Now Teignmouth Town Council offices. (CC BY-SA 2.0) © Copyright Stephen Richards. (Modified, changed to black and white)

During WW1 the Army were in possession of Bitton House and soldiers were billeted in the town and market place.

In October 1915 the Teignmouth Urban District Council granted permission for parts of Bitton House to be used as a hospital, canteen and recreation rooms and for the Den to be used for Drill.

The Ordnance Survey, 1913 - 1914 map shows 'Isolation Hospital (Teignmouth U.D.C.)' as a long rectangular building with glass covered verandas on north of east side and south of west side of Bitton House (the Isolation Hospital was later demolished).

Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD) Records

Date of engagement with VAD: 15th April 1917 to 19th January 1919.

Rank: Nurse

Service rendered at:
VA Hospital, Teignmouth, Devon.
VA Hospital, Torrington, Devon.
Topsham Barracks, Exeter, Devon.
VA Hospital, Torrington, Devon.

Honours awarded:
Certificate, W.W. Badge.

Number of hours served: 1295 (worked part-time).

Paid: £3 - £4