Statue of Captain Albert Ball
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| Statue of Captain Albert Ball | |
|---|---|
 The statue | |
  Statue of Captain Albert Ball | |
| Artist | Henry Poole |
| Year | 1921 |
| Medium | Bronze |
| Subject | Captain Albert Ball |
| Designation | Grade I |
| Location | Nottingham Castle Gardens, Nottingham |
| 52°56′59″N 1°09′15″W / 52.94973°N 1.1541°W | |
A statue of Captain Albert Ball stands in Nottingham Castle Gardens, in Nottingham, England. It comprises a bronze sculpture by Henry Poole which depicts the British fighter pilot Captain Albert Ball VC DSO & Two Bars, MC accompanied by an allegorical female figure, standing on a stone pedestal by the architect Edwin Alfred Rickards. The memorial was unveiled in 1921, was listed at Grade II in 1972, upgraded to Grade I in 2017.
Albert Ball was born in Nottingham in 1896. His father, also Albert Ball, was a businessman and local politician. In September 1914, soon after the outbreak of the First World War, Ball enlisted in the 2/7th (Robin Hood) Battalion of the Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment) and he was quickly commissioned as a second lieutenant.
After some private flying tuition, he transferred to the Royal Flying Corps and qualified as a pilot in January 1916. He flew reconnaissance missions in France from February 1916 with No. 13 Squadron. He moved to a fighter unit, No. 11 Squadron, in May 1916 and soon recorded his first aerial victory. Within 12 months, he achieved 44 confirmed "kills", and a further 25 unconfirmed.
Ball became famous for his martial achievements, and he was described by Germany aviator Manfred von Richthofen (the "Red Baron") as "by far the best English flying man". He was promoted to acting captain in August 1916, and moved to No. 60 Squadron. He was formally recognised by the award of the Military Cross, and the Distinguished Service Order with two Bars. Ball was killed when his aircraft crashed on 7 May 1917. A month later, he was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross. Ball was also created a Chevalier of the French Légion d’Honneur, and the Russian Order of St George (4th Class).
Ball was buried in the communal cemetery at Annœullin in France. His father bought the field where his aircraft crashed and erected a separate memorial there.
