How does Statue of Captain Albert Ball elucidate its Design?
The bronze memorial statue by Henry Poole stands in the grounds of the Grade I listed Nottingham Castle, amidst a number of other Grade I listed buildings and structures.  Also nearby are a Grade II listed war memorial sundial, and a Grade II listed war memorial obelisk.
The memorial was commissioned by Nottingham City Council and funded by public subscription.  It includes a life-size statue of Ball, depicted in a standing position, wearing in his flying uniform, with his hands on his belt, looking up towards the sky.  Behind him stands a robed woman standing on clouds: this allegorical figure representing "Air" is resting one hand on Ball's shoulder and pointing upwards with the other hand. The composition draws on Christian depictions of the raising of saints, drawn upwards towards heaven.  The sculpture stands on a Portland stone plinth, designed by the architect Edwin Alfred Rickards, two sides of which have relief carvings depicting an S.E.5a biplane, one flying over trenches and the other flying above clouds.  The other two sides bear inscriptions within cartouches.  Each inscription includes a reference to the motto of the nascent RAF, "Per ardua ad astra" ("By labour to the stars").  One inscription reads: "CAPT. ALBERT BALL V.C. / 7TH ROBIN HOOD BATTALION SHERWOOD FORESTERS / ATTACHED ROYAL FLYING CORPS, DSO (2 BARS) MC / CROIX DE CHEVALIER, LEGION D'HONNEUR, / ORDER OF ST GEORGE (RUSSIAN) / HON. FREEMAN OF THE CITY OF NOTTINGHAM / PER ARDUA AD ASTRA".  And the other inscription reads "IN THE AIR / HE GAVE MOST CONSPICUOUS / AND GALLANT SERVICE TO / HIS COUNTRY AND WAS KILLED / IN ACTION FIGHTING GLORIOUSLY / MAY 7TH 1917 AGED 20 YEARS / PER ARDUA AD ASTRA".
The plinth rests on a tiered grey granite base, with three lobed steps.  The base has bronze fittings, including eternal flames, a feather, a laurel wreath, and architectural feet.
The memorial was unveiled by Air Marshal Sir Hugh Trenchard on 8 September 1921.  Trenchard had served as commander of the Royal Flying Corps in France from August 1915 to January 1918, and then Chief of the Air Staff. The ceremony included a flypast by a squadron of RAF aircraft.
A bronze cast of Poole's model for the statue is held by the National Portrait Gallery, London, donated by Ball's parents in 1929.
Per ardua ad astra commander of the Royal Flying Corps in France S.E.5a biplane listed building raising Nottingham City Council Portland stone National Portrait Gallery, London Chief of the Air Staff Royal Flying Corps Henry Poole saint Air Marshal MC Edwin Alfred Rickards listed Nottingham Castle DSO Nottingham Hugh Trenchard