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BALLARD, Raymond Charles (1899-1976) – Royal Field Artillery

Driver Raymond Ballard (No. 261469) had enlisted by 1914 in the Royal Field Artillery.  He was the son of Charles and Clara Ballard and born in Badsey in January 1899. His service record no longer remains but the Parish Magazine of November 1918 mentions that he had recently been sick and in hospital in France.  Almost immediately after his return to the lines he was wounded in the arm.  He was returned to England and taken to hospital in Doncaster.  He was awarded the British War and Victory Medals, but not the 1914 or 1915 Star, which indicates that he did not serve overseas until at least 1916.

He married May Hughes in 1923 and by 1939 he was living in the High Street, Badsey.  In 1941, according to the National Farm Survey, he was growing vegetables on about 2 acres and also had some chickens in Badsey and was also growing vegetables on 2¼ acres in Wickhamford. His connection to Wickhamford continued and he was living at 16 Washington Road at the time of his death on 19th October 1976. He was buried in the village cemetery.