BALLARD, Eli

Portsmouth Naval Memorial, UKCredit: CWGC

Petty Officer
HMS Begonia - Azalia Class Sloop
Royal Navy

Eli was born on the 13th of September 1886 in Mottistone to John & Sarah (nee MORRIS) BALLARD. John predeceased his son & Sarah was living in Brookside, Brighstone around the time of Eli’s death.

Eli was a career sailor, serving on HMS Duke of Edinburgh in 1911. But on the 16th of October 1917 he was serving aboard HMS Begonia when she was torpedoed by the German submarine U-44, badly damaged & taken under tow by HMS Snowdrop. However, during the engagement Eli was killed & subsequently buried at sea. Eli is therefore commemorated by the Commission upon the Portsmouth Naval Memorial together with over 10,000 of his First World War shipmates

Eli is also remembered on the County, Carisbrooke & Brighstone War Memorials.

CWGC Casualty Record

Cemetary

Sons & Daughters Commemorated Far From Home

Those from the Newport & Carisbrooke area who are buried or commemorated by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission outside of the area, both in the UK and in other countries.

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The image is of the Tyne Cot Military Cemetery & Memorial in Belgium.