The scarce NZEF pair to William Ball, captured at Meteren on 16th April 1918. Less than 500 members of the NZEF were captured by the enemy on all fronts in the First World War. The group also comes with all three of Ball's dog tags.

William Ball was born in the Staffordshire town of Leek on 15th March 1889. He was the eldest son of Solomon Ball, a silk dyer, and his wife Elizabeth. Perhaps seeking a better life, William emigrated to New Zealand on the Tainui, leaving London on the 25th April 1912. He was  employed at the Gresham Hotel when he was called up for service during the First World War. William Ball enlisted in the NZEF 17th July 1917 at Trentham. He was posted to the 32nd Reinforcements, and trained in New Zealand until embarking for the UK on 20th November 1917. Ball was posted to the 2nd NZ Entrenching Battalion in March1918, and was captured along with over 200 of his battalion on 16th April 1918 at Meteren. It was later reported that he was being held at a camp in Stargard, in modern-day Poland. He was released at the end of the war, returning to the UK in December 1918. He was subsequently found to be suffering from a degree of debility caused by the privations suffered as a prisoner of war.

Both medals correctly impressed. British War Medal  (63537 PTE. W. BALL. N.Z.E.F.), Victory Medal (63537 PTE. W. BALL. N.Z.E.F.), dog tags as depicted.