A Blood Poisoned Heel - Rushden Soldier in Hospital - Lance-Corpl F Ballard

We regret to report that Lance-Corpl Frank Ballard, - Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, son of Mr and Mrs Frank Ballard of Kettering, formerly of Rushden, has been wounded in the heel in action, and blood poisoning has set in. He is now in hospital in Leicester, and we understand that he is going on fairly well.

Lance-Corpl Ballard joined the Colours several months ago, and went out to France at the end of January, being drafted from the 3rd Northants Regt., to an active service battalion of the Inniskilling Fusiliers. He was formerly employed at the C.W.S. Boot Works, Rushden, of which his father was for some time manager.

Rushden Echo, October 18th, 1918, transcribed by Greville Watson

Rushden’s Casualty List - Victims of the War

Second Lieut. Frank Ballard, Northants Regt., of Griffith-street, Rushden, is, we regret to state, officially reported missing, his wife (who is the daughter of Mrs Geo. Fountain, of Griffith-street, Rushden) having received a telegram to that effect on Tuesday night. He is listed as missing from Oct. 10th, and, up to the time of writing, no further news has been received of him. Lieut. Ballard is the third son of Mr Frank Ballard, of Kettering, formerly manager of the C.W.S. boot works at Rushden and for many years a member of the Rushden Urban Council. After his parents had left Rushden, Lieut. Ballard remained in the employ of the C.W.S. at Rushden, being a machine operator. He joined the Colours about two years ago, as a private, in the Royal Inniskilling Rifles. He was invalided home, and about six months ago he received his commission, proceeding to France about five months ago.