Albert Ball biographies

[Kosh]

Is there a bio on him containing as much as possible of his correspondence e.g. to his sister? I bumped into an old Finnish book "Pilven veikot" (pre-WW Two) by a Finnish pilot Tapani Harmaja. In the chapter on Ball Harmaja mentions that Ball´s letters are fun to read due to their atmossphere and "interesting" spelling and grammar.

[MattyBoy]

Hi,

I know Chaz Bowyer has written a book about him called simply Albert Ball, VC.
I haven't read the book myself, so cannot comment on what it's like or the info it contains.
Regards,
Matt.

[Dave_Kent]

Hello:

A number of yeas ago I read CAPTAIN BAL V.C. by Briscoe & Stannard. My memory is of it having a lot of correspondance in it.

Perhaps another member can confirm or deny?

Dave

[Ginger.]

Kosh,
Stroll out to Vert Gallant's flight line, sit in Major Ginger's vacent deckchair, and wait for him and Scarlett to get back from the dawn patrol.

[Dave_Kent]

Hello again:

There was also a book by T. B. A. Graves about Ball called SCATTERED TO THE WIND, which I believe was letters and other personal papers. I have never seen a copy, so again perhaps another member can add comment.

I believe, if I remember correctly, that Graves got into a bit of trouble due to his 'research' techniques.

Dave

[Frank_Olynyk]

SCATTERED TO THE WINDS is all/most of Ball's combat reports. I do not remember any personal papers.

Graves got into more than a "bit" of trouble; and I personally feel that he escaped far too easily.

Frank.

[Bulldog90]

I have the Bowyer book. Its from the '70's and is considered the biography on Albert Ball. It contains snippets of letters to his family, but not whole letters. He was apparently a little more forthcoming about the dangers he faced with his sister than with his parents. His sister named her son Albert, who was lost flying Spitfires in WW2.

The biography by Kiernan written soon after WW1 is pretty fluffy in its prose and light on facts, but interesting as a period piece. Our friend Scarlett says shes writing a book about AB, I look forward to reading it. Other than that I recently came across this web site that you might find useful.

Dereck

http://www.albertball.homestead.com/Recollections.html

[Familyman]

Terve Kosh

Harmaja's source about Albert Ball for 'Pilven Veikot' was Kiernan, R.H.: Captain Albert Ball (London 1933). Might that book be still around? Known re-prints?


Anyway, I just read 'Pilven Veikot' again, too. Used to be my favorite as a kid, but haven't find a copy in libraries since late 60's. Recently I found a copy at a flea market. What a charming book!

Mikko

[TomVrille]

The first edition of Kiernan's book was published in August, 1933. A second edition was published in February, 1939. A softback edition was published by Penguin books in 1940. Correspondence is included mostly in the form of brief excerpts, as was customary in the 1930s.