AS you may know, we are running 128 films of 128 Harlow residents reading out the biographies of the 128 men who left his area during World War One and never returned.

Today, Mo Uddin from the Garden of India restaurant in Bush Fair, reads the short life of Vivien George Ballard.

This project is brought to you with the support of Harlow Council’s Civic Fund and HTS Ltd.

Never Forget.

Vivian’s parents were Edward George Ballard, born in Hertford in 18711 and Hilda Kate Kerry, born in Stansted in c.1868. They married in Holborn in 18932 and Vivian George Edward Ballard was born in Paddington in 18943.

The 1901 census shows Vivian living at 18 Nelson Street, Hertford with his parents. Edward was working as a railway clerk. The 1911 census shows Vivian living at 120 Walworth Road in south east London. Edward was a club steward and Hilda was a club stewardess. Vivian was a drapers’ assistant. Sometime after the 1911 census Vivian moved to Harlow.

Private Vivian George Ballard, 78298, enlisted at Woolwich and served with The 5th Battalion of The Machine Gun Corps/Tank Corps. Formerly Private 2216 of The Army Service Corps, Vivian was killed in action on 16 April 1918 at the age of 24 and is commemorated on The Ploegsteert Memorial to the Missing, Belgium. Panel 11. Register Index Number MR32.

Probate was granted on 2 February 1920 to Vivian’s father Edward, a hotel manager at 40 Hammersmith Road, West Kensington to the sum of £128 14s. 6d.