Charles Frederick Ball: From Loughborough to Gallipoli

Charles Frederick Ball (1879-1915), was born and brought up in Loughborough and carved out a distinguished career for himself as a botanist and horticulturist, ending up as Assistant Keeper at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Dublin.  Tragically, his life ended prematurely when he enlisted in the Royal Dublin Fusiliers on the outbreak of WW1 and was killed at Gallipoli in 1915. 

Brian Willan is a grandson of Fred Ball’s wife Alice (via her second marriage) and draws upon recently discovered family letters and photographs, as well as research in other archives, to tell his fascinating story – and that of Alice too.

Brian lives in Devon and is a former publisher. His book ‘Charles Frederick Ball: From Dublin’s Botanic Gardens to the Killing Fields of Gallipoli’ was recently published by the Liffey Press, Dublin. He has also written in the field of South African history.

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