The last survivor of one of Britain's 'ghost villages' left empty after the residents were evicted by the British Army during the Second World War has died at the age of 98.
Donald Balls was serving as a signalman for the Royal Air Force in Ceylon (Sri Lanka) when his family and 1,000 residents were forced out of their homes.
The military moved in to Tottington, near Thetford in Norfolk, in 1942 and it was transformed into an infantry training ground to prepare troops for the Battle of Normandy.
The RAF singalman was never able to return to his home and only saw his village again on the odd coach trip - returning for the last time in 2000.
Most poignantly of all, Donald was also forced to leave behind his mother's grave in the village church.
Donald Balls, pictured above, has died aged 98. He was was the last survivor of the 'ghost village' of Tottington which was left empty after the residents were evicted by the British Army
Donald Balls was serving as a signalman for the Royal Air Force in Ceylon (Sri Lanka) when his family and 1,000 residents were forced out of their homes
Donald's mother Ethel passed away shortly after his family moved to Tottington in 1930, where his father, Joseph, worked as a blacksmith.
Ethel had a baby six months premature and died a few days later from sepsis. Mother and child were buried together at the church.
Donald's step-son Ian Manser said his father never got over the fact he could not visit his mother's grave whenever he wished.
Ian said: 'He always wanted to get to his mum's grave and I think that was always on his mind.
'When he heard that his family were being evacuated, he wanted to come home and help them but he wasn't allowed. He had to stay in Ceylon.
Donald Balls pictured with his beloved dog. His step-son said he had always wanted to be able to visit the grave of his mother, who died in childbirth and was buried in Tottington
'He just wanted to be able to visit her grave whenever he wanted.'
Tottington residents were originally given one week to relocate by the War Office but the deadline was extended to one month after a number of villagers refused to evacuate the area.
Some residents were said to be happy to give up their homes to help the war effort but the majority did not want to leave.
They were promised they could return to their homes after the war but the post-War Labour govenrment and the MOD reneged on their promise.
The area remained an army training ground in which troops prepared for live deployment to theatres including Aden, Bosnia and even Iraq.
The people of Tottington felt as though the British army had broken their promise and residents spent years fighting for justice - even pleading with the Prime Minister at the time, Clement Attlee.
Donald Balls who has died aged 98 pictured working in the RAF as a signalman in the 1940s
To this day, the entire village and its parish church remains within the Ministry of Defence's 1,700 acre training area and visitors must be granted permission to enter.
A war veteran, whose family was also evicted 76 years ago, was the first person to be buried in the ghost town in 2009 after fighting to return to his village for over 50 years.
William Hancock's son said his father would have seen being buried in Tottington as a small victory in his fight for justice.
Donald was also forced to relocate after the war and settled in Eccles, Norfolk, where he became a postman as well as a church warden at the parish church.
His step-son said he was a much-loved man within the community and often helped out where he could.
Ian added: 'If he knew it was one of the children's birthdays instead of just posting the letter through, Don would knock on the door and whistle happy birthday.
'He really was a great man.'
Later Donald moved to Wilby, Suffolk, where he lived for the rest of his life.
Ian described his step-father as someone who was never worried about anything and who used to say 'health is better than wealth'.
Donald is survived by his wife, Muriel Manser-Balls, 79, his step-son, Ian Manser, 50, and his two step-grandchildren Stephen and Michael Manser, 24 and 22.
Muriel, who was with Donald for over 20 years, said: 'He was just such an interesting man. He had so many stories to tell.'
Donald was buried at Eccles Parish Church where he was given a special spot for all his hard work over the years as a church warden.
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