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Memorial Stone Unveiled For Waterloo Veteran
23 July 2007
A memorial stone was last week unveiled at Brompton Cemetery to indicate the previously unmarked grave of the late Colour Sergeant George Baller, a Waterloo survivor and former Chelsea Pensioner.
The reception was attended by around 100 people including the current keeper of Sergeant Baller’s medals, Mr. Charles Ashton and his family, the Leech family who are descendants of Sgt. Baller, Chelsea Pensioners, ex service personnel and other invited guests.
Colour Sergeant Baller, who passed away from chronic bronchitis in July 1868, had until now been buried in a ‘common grave’ along with his wife Sophia.
Baller was born in Chewton Mendip, Somerset in 1787. In 1809 he enlisted in the armed forces and was assigned to the 1st Battalion 95th Regiment of Foot (Rifles). He was soon bound for Portugal where he almost immediately found himself immersed in fighting with the French. In a remarkable incident, Baller came to the rescue of a Lieutenant when two French grenadiers managed to scale the hill to the British encampment. He shot one and the other promptly surrendered. He was present during all the actions with the French on their retreat from Portugal.
Discharged in May 1816, he had served with the regiment for a total of seven years, with two extra years for Waterloo. Colonel Sir Andrew Barnard recommended Baller as a soldier worthy of a pension and he passed the board at Chelsea on the 21 June 1816 at nine pence per day.
The Reverend Lorna Christina Cleveland opened the ceremony before the memorial stone was unveiled by Sarah Yockney, followed by words from Charles Ashton. To culminate the service, wreaths were laid by the Leech family, Susan Ashton, Chelsea Pensioners, ex-service personnel, and the 95th Regiment of Foot (Rifles).
Charles Ashton, who along with researcher Brian Horton gathered together the full story of Sgt. Baller’s life and career, said: “It was apparent that George Baller had a long and distinguished service career and had suffered a great deal as a result of the wounds he had received during the Peninsular Campaign and at Waterloo. It did not seem right that he was buried in an unmarked grave after all he had done for his country and I therefore decided to give him a more lasting memorial by holding a service of dedication and placing a memorial stone on his grave.”
