https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/4/Ball/
On 30 June and 1 July, family members of Joseph (Joe) Ball visited his grave for the first time. This has always been a wish of their father, a brother of Joe, but he died very young. They have now fulfilled his wish. I had the privilage of being their host for the weekend. A weekend to remember I can asure you! The family laid a floral tribute on Joe's grave and met the man who had witnessed the shooting of Joe, which was a moving experience. On Monday an article with a photo was publised in a regional newspaper. I received an email from the journalist. He had received a phone call from a man who had seen the article and had some more information. He lived in a house at the pond of the asylum Vrederust which was the place where No 4 Commando were billeted in 1945, which was confirmed by him. The man was 14 years of age at the time. Two French Commandos were billeted at his place and they regularly went on raids to Schouwen, one of the islands not far away. He still has a photo of one of them. When it became known that a Commando was shot (which he heard from one of the Frenchmen billeted in his place), the troops wanted to get their revenge in Bergen op Zoom (the incident was known at Vrederust the same day). They were armed but were stopped by the Commanding Officer. This is probably what is referred to in the book The Fighting Fourth, that the troops were confined to their billets to prevent a riot. The incident took place in the early evening of the 2nd of June. One of the Frenchmen billeted with this man, against orders went to the Grote Markt. It could be possible that he was involved in the big fight on the Grote Markt (which is in a police report). For going against orders he was punished and this for him meant that he wasn't going to Paris where on the 6th of June a big parade was held (which is right). The shot was fired by a patrol of the Dutch Navy, and not by a Dutch Marine, as they had already left Bergen op Zoom (which is right). The reason for firing is not known by the man. He doesn't know if the Dutch Navy personnel and the Commandos had a quarrel beforehand. He does know though that the victim had very little to do with it all!! Which makes the death of Joe even more sadder I think. The Navy patrol came from the Fortuinstraat (which confirms the story of the eyewitness). The Commandos came walking from a cinema called Roxy, situated on the other side of the Grote Markt, and the shot was fired in front of Hotel De Draak (this also confirms the eyewitness's story). The witness had heard then that the man who fired the shot had been brought to Vrederust, but he isn't sure about that. He is very sure though that the incident was kept completely silent and was covered up. Which is right I believe as I have found nothing about it in the archives of the Military Government at that time. He is also almost convinced that the legal side of the incident was dropped, which is right I believe as I have found nothing in the archives of the Military Court at that time as well. According to the witness the French and/or British were also not keen on the incident being known. Which could be the reason that the death of Joe, nearly a month after the official end of the war, is not even mentioned in the war diary of No 4 Commando."

Additionally there is a forum message which can be viewed by clcking on this link: https://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoForum/posts/list/15/3089.page

In Memory of 6016394 Fusilier JOSEPH BALL
Royal Irish Fusiliers and No. 4, Commando
who died age 23 on 03 June 1945
Remembered with honour at Bergen-Op-Zoom War Cemetery]]> en-us Gallery 2 RSS Module, version 1.1.8 Tue, 21 Jul 2026 13:34:35 +0100 120 https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/d/26316-6/Ball.jpg https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/4/Ball/ https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/4/Ball/Funeral+of+Fus+Joseph+Ball_+No4+Cdo.jpg.html https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/4/Ball/Funeral+of+Fus+Joseph+Ball_+No4+Cdo.jpg.html
Follow this link to view forum message: http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoForum/posts/list/15/3089.page

In Memory of Fusilier JOSEPH BALL
6016394, Royal Irish Fusiliers and No. 4, Commando
who died age 23 on 03 June 1945
Remembered with honour BERGEN-OP-ZOOM WAR CEMETERY
In album Fusilier Joseph Ball]]> Pete Rogers (Admin) photo Mon, 08 Jan 2018 15:37:50 +0000 https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/4/Ball/h_amp_s+013.jpg.html https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/4/Ball/h_amp_s+013.jpg.html
At the graveside of Fusilier Ball are his niece Julia Thorn with her brother, and Joe's nephew, Nigel Ball, and Nigel's daughter Emily. They visited the grave with Jack Bakker who took this photo. [Posted by Pete R.]


In Memory of Fusilier JOSEPH BALL
6016394, Royal Irish Fusiliers and No. 4, Commando
who died age 23 on 03 June 1945
Remembered with honour BERGEN-OP-ZOOM WAR CEMETERY
In album Fusilier Joseph Ball]]> Pete Rogers (Admin) photo Sun, 30 Dec 2012 17:37:11 +0000 https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/4/Ball/J_Ball_burial+_1_.jpg.html https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/4/Ball/J_Ball_burial+_1_.jpg.html
Accidentally shot and killed near Bergen-op-Zoom on the 3rd June 1945. Photo courtesy of his niece and nephew , Julia Thorn (nee Ball) and Nigel Ball. Posted by Pete R.

19/9/2012 update from Jack Bakker: "Today I received an email from the headmaster of the school in Wissenkerke. Some time ago I contacted him in my search for information about Joseph Ball. Wissenkerke was the place where Joseph's unit, 1 Troop, No 4 Commando, was based in November/December 1944. At first there was little or no result, but the headmaster was so intrigued by the story about Joseph that he put it on his website. As a result the following information has come to light - First on the left is Mr Ko Kramer. Next to him is his wife Betje de Ridder. They lived in the Voorstraat in Wissenkerken and their daughter, Jo Kramer who is 83 years of age now, still lives there. Next to Betje de Ridder is Mr Van der Maas and next to him is his wife whose maiden name was Tona Smit. They also lived in the Voorstraat. There was no name given of the sergeant on the extreme right. So what I thought all along has been confirmed: that the people on the photo (at least one couple as it turns out) were the people where Joseph Ball was billeted. I think they were informed of his death and were taken to his grave by the sergeant."

In Memory of 6016394 Fusilier JOSEPH BALL
No. 4 Commando 1 troop
who died age 23 on 03 June 1945
Remembered with honour BERGEN-OP-ZOOM WAR CEMETERY
In album Fusilier Joseph Ball]]> Pete Rogers (Admin) photo Sat, 14 Sep 2024 19:28:00 +0100