The Gallery holds the most extensive collection of portraits in the world. Search over 215,000 works, 150,000 of which are illustrated from the 16th Century to the present day.

Advanced Collection search

Search the Collection

Charles James Prior Ball

(1893-1973), Major

Sitter associated with 1 portrait

Tell us More

 Like voting
is closed

Thanks for Liking

Please Like other favourites!
If they inspire you please support our work.

Make a donation

List Thumbnail

Charles James Prior Ball, by Rex Coleman, for Baron Studios - NPG x191243

Charles James Prior Ball

by Rex Coleman, for Baron Studios
5 x 4 inch film negative, 25 May 1961
NPG x191243

Category

Places

Tell us more back to top

Can you tell us more about this person? Spotted an error, information that is missing (a sitter’s life dates, occupation or family relationships, or a date of portrait for example) or do you know anything that we don't know? If you have information to share please complete the form below.

If you require information from us, please use our Archive enquiry service. You can buy a print of most illustrated portraits. Select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Buy a Print button. Prices start at £6 for unframed prints, £25 for framed prints. If you wish to license an image, please use our Rights and Images service.

Please note that we cannot provide valuations.

We digitise over 8,000 portraits a year and we cannot guarantee being able to digitise images that are not already scheduled.

John Ball (nephew)

06 March 2017, 18:43

Charles Ball (habitually known as "Major Ball" throughout his life) made a significant contribution to the joint Allied war effort in WW2 by providing the technology (used in his factory "Magnesium Elektron" referred above) deployed in Nevada USA to create "Basic Magnesium", the largest plant in the world at the time which produced magnesium for airframes and munitions ,He was also the creator of the company which ultimately, via acquisitions through Distillers Company Limited became the Plastics division of British Petroleum. In sporting activities he sailed for GB in Dragons in the 1936 Olympics and became Vice-Commodore of the Royal Thames Yacht Club,

George Chastney,Vice Chairman of Cowes Heritage

27 July 2016, 12:21

Major Ball served in the Royal Horse Artillery in Gallipoli and received the DSO and MC for bravery. A chemical engineer, after the war he made his fortune setting up a factory and had a large estate in Hampshire. His war-time service is featured in a current WW1 exhibition at Carisbrooke Castle Museum, Isle of Wight. Herewith a write up of his life: Family Name Ball Christian Names Charles James Prior Date of Birth 15/02/1893 Date of Death 15/10/1973 00:00:00 Additional Notes Parents were George W Ball House builder and Developer fromCowes and his wife Dora. they were first cousins. They lived in a large house, Parklands in Cowes. Date of Marriage 01/12/1920 00:00:00 Who they married Eva St Clare Lucas Got Married at Warwick, Warwickshire, England Occupation chemical engineer educated UCL Children Address Brief Service Description Rank Blank Service Number Service Detail Joined the RHA in 1914 and served in the Dardanelles. Awarded the DSO and MC and promoted to Major. After ww1 appointed to the Armaments Sub-Commission of the Military Inter Allied Commission of Control and remained in the Army of Occupation in Germany. He specialised in explosives. Awards Royal Horse Artillery 2nd Lt then Acting Major. No Army number as officer trained. Medal Card shows DSO and Military Cross for bravery. Also 1915 Star theatre of war Gallipoli. British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to Parklands, Cowes, IW on 23/07/1921. David Langford. Ancestry.co.uk researchers Lin Watterson spring 2015 Date Of Research May 2015

What can you tell us?close

There are occasions when we are unsure of the identity of a sitter or artist, their life dates, occupation or have not recorded their family relationships. Sometimes we have not recorded the date of a portrait. Do you have specialist knowledge or a particular interest about any aspect of the portrait or sitter or artist that you can share with us? We would welcome any information that adds to and enhances our information and understanding about a particular portrait, sitter or artist.

Citationclose

How do you know this? Please could you let us know your source of information.

* Permission to publish (Privacy information)
Privacy Informationclose

The National Portrait Gallery will NOT use your information to contact you or store for any other purpose than to investigate or display your contribution. By ticking permission to publish you are indicating your agreement for your contribution to be shown on this collection item page. Please note your email address will not be displayed on the page nor will it be used for any marketing material or promotion of any kind.

Please ensure your comments are relevant and appropriate. Your contributions must be polite and with no intention of causing trouble. All contributions are moderated.

Your Emailclose

Contributions are moderated. We'll need your email address so that we can follow up on the information provided and contact you to let you know when your contribution has been published.