The collection is composed of two sub-collections, the first of these contains papers of Lieutenant-General John Archibald Ballard (1829-1880) which cover his service as part of the Ottoman forces during the Crimean War and his service for the East India Company in the Persian Campaign and Indian Mutiny. His later letters cover his time as Mint Master at Bombay [Mumbai] and his family life. The second sub-collection which forms the bulk of the collection contains the papers of his son, Admiral George Alexander Ballard (1862-1948) which record events of his naval career from 1875-1919 including his participation in the Mahdist War, Third Anglo-Burmese War, Boxer Rebellion and First World War. These provide an insight into the personal and professional life of a naval officer from cadet to admiral.

Related material:
Additional papers and medals of John Archibald Ballard are held by the National Army Museum, Templar Study Centre under references 1994-05-400 and 1994-04-528. Further copies of George Alexander Ballard's personal reminiscences (BLRD/2/3/1) are held under reference NAI/2/29 and microfilm copy: MRF/107. Copy also held by National Museum of the Royal Navy, Portsmouth under reference RNM 1988/89.

Administrative / biographical background
See biographical histories for John Archibald Ballard and George Alexander Ballard at sub-collection levels.