Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Walter Ferry was born 3rd quarter of 1899 at Kinley, parish of Hawthorn, County Durham. He was one of 10 known children, 7 boys and 2 girls born to farmer Richard Ferry of Pallion, a suburb of Sunderland, born 1854 and Ann Bateman born 1855 at Easington, County Durham, whom he married in the district of Sunderland 1875. Walter’s mother died aged 46 in 1901 when he was only one-year-old, his widowed father farmed at Kinley Hill Farm, Seaham Harbour, his daughters worked in the dairy and his sons with the exception of Robert, who worked as a quarryman, farmed the land.
Walter at the time of his enlistment was assigned to the Seaforth Highlanders, 2nd Battalion, as Private S/27148. His service document no longer exists, one of 70% destroyed during the blitz of WW2, however, in accordance with military ruling he could not enlist until he was 18 years old and could only have been sent to the front at 19 which would have been in 1918. The 2nd Battalion Seaforth Highlanders attached to the 10th Brigade, 4th Division participated in what is known as The Last Hundred Days, culminating with the Armistice which was signed November 11th 1918.
Private Walter Ferry S/27148 was either wounded or taken ill prior to the Armistice and transported by Field Ambulance to the 20th General Hospital at Camiers, one of the many hospitals concentrated around Etaples, where he died February 27th 1919. He is interred at Etaples Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France, grave LXXII. 12. D, he was 19 years old and single. His father Richard paid for an inspiration to be added to his military headstone, it reads, Rest In Peace and received all monies due to him along with his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Walter’s younger brother Richard Arthur Ferry, born 1897 at Kinley Hill also enlisted, December 3rd 1915 and survived the War.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Walter Ferry is remembered at Hawthorn on H119.01
