Pauline Priano has submitted the following:

James Ferrie Jnr was born in Felling, Gateshead, historically in County Durham. He was the youngest of 7 known children, 4 of whom died in infancy, offspring of James Ferrie Snr and Sarah Duffy, both of whom were born in Amaugh, Ireland in 1842 and 1852 respectively.

James Ferrie Snr and Sarah were married in Gateshead in 1873 and settled in the village of Felling Shore on the banks of the River Tyne the birthplace of their son Patrick in 1874 who sadly died in 1875 aged 1 year either just prior to or just after Sarah gave brith to their son Daniel, August 15th 1875. A son James was born in 1877 whom they lost not yet 1 year old during the 1st quarter (Jan/Feb/Mar) 1878. Soon after Sarah fell pregnant again and their daughter Ellen was born during the 4th quarter (Oct/Nov/Dec) 1878 but died aged 2 years in 1880. 

In 1881 the family was living at Railway Row, Felling where James Snr was employed as a chemical worker. They also had a new addition to the family, 3 month old Bernard but tragedy struck once again when he too died in infancy before the end of the year not yet 1 year old. They welcomed a daughter in 1883 whom they named Mary and lastly James Jnr, September 26th 1885. All their children were registered with the surname Ferry and not Ferrie.

James Ferrie died in 1888 and Sarah entered into a relationship with widower Ralph Moody, born in 1849, Holy Island also known as Lindisfarne, an island off the north east coast, in the county of Northumberland. Ralph had 5 children of his own, the eldest of whom was 13, the youngest only 2. In 1891 the joint families were living at Holly Street, Felling, supported by Ralph employed as a coal miner. Daniel Ferrie (15) was working at the colliery as a labourer.

Prior to Ralph Moody’s demise in 1902, he and Sarah had an only daughter Sarah, born in 1892 and had been living in Scotland with his son William (21) and James  Ferrie (15). 

By 1911 Sarah’s son Daniel Ferrie was a widower and had a son Michael. Listed as head of the household he was living in 3 rooms at 54, Havelock Street, Felling, with 6 members of his family, his son, 25 year old brother James  Jnr with whom he was employed at the local colliery to support their mother Sarah (58), his step sister Sarah Moody (19), his sister Mary Ferrie (27) and a nephew Alexander Ferrie (3).

Britain declared a state of war existed with Germany, August 4th 1914. Men from all walks of life volunteered to serve their Country in answer to Kitchener’s call to arms and all regiments were ordered to raise new battalions. 29 year old James Ferrie Jnr, resident of 54, Havelock Street, described as 5 feet 5 and three quarter inches tall, left his employment as a coal miner and was especially enlisted in London as Sapper 102567, Royal Engineers, June 9th 1915 and within days was assigned to the British Expeditionary Force.

He was transferred to “M” Company then to the 174th Tunnelling Company, July 21st 1915. The tunnelling companies were specialist units of the Royal Engineers tasked with digging tunnels under the enemy lines in response to the discovery that the Germans had been digging shallow tunnels across No Man’s Land since late 1914 which were packed with explosives, a new and serious threat to the Allied troops.

The 174th Tunnelling Company was put to work in the Houplines area in Nord, France in 1915 and worked in the Rue du Bois sector before moving to the Somme in July 1916. 

January 6th 1916 Sapper James Ferrie was wounded, gun shot wounds to his legs and side and admitted to the 15th Field Ambulance before he was repatriated to England for further treatment. 

Having returned to France he rejoined the 250th Tunnelling Company from the Base Depot, June 16th 1916 and by late October was in the vicinity of the village of Bois. He received 7 days Field Punishment  No.1, October 9th 25th 1916 as he had absented himself from the 10.45 a.m. check parade until found at 11.50 a.m. in an estaminet (a small cafe serving alcohol) in the village of Boisdinghem, Pas de Calais, France. 

Field Punishment No.1 consisted of the man being placed in shackles and handcuffs and fixed to a gun wheel, fence or similar for up to two hours a day. This was carried out in special punishment camps or if their unit was on the move it was carried out by their own company.

June 1st 1917 Sapper Ferrie was admitted to the 14th General Hospital at Chateau Mauricien, Wimerieux, cause unspecified, then rejoined his unit at the Royal Engineers Base Depot in Boulogne, from there he posted to the 175th Tunnelling Company, July 28th 1917 and by September 23rd 1917 was given leave to the U.K. until October 3rd.

Having returned to his unit, after the Armistice of November 11th 1918 Sapper Ferrie was examined, December 19th 1918 at Valenciennes, France and discharged to Class Z in Chatham, Kent, February 1st 1919, free to return to his home at 20, Stainton Street, Felling and resume his employment but under the obligation of returning to the Colours should hostilities resume with Germany. The Armistice of 1918 was not a surrender by Germany they had merely requested a ceasefire, however, with the signing of the Treaty Of Versailles, July 28th 1919, WW1 was officially brought to a close and Class Z was abolished. In recognition of his service Sapper James Ferrie was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.

Post war during the 2nd quarter (Apr/May/Jun) 1919 James Ferrie Jnr was married in the district of Gateshead to Ann Lumsden. Affectionately known as Annie, she was born in the village of Felling Shore, Gateshead, September 16th 1887, where she was baptised by her parents, ferry boatman Thomas Lumsden and his wife Ann Kelly. Her brother Thomas Lumsden Royal Navy died during WW1 in 1917.

James Jnr and Annie had 5 children all of whom were born in Felling, Thomas, April 22nd 1920, James Jnr., October 29th 1921, Edward, October 21st 1923, Joseph 1925 and Ann Lumsden Ferrie in 1928. In 1939 they were living at 17, Stainton Street, Felling. James Ferrie (II) was employed as a general labourer, Thomas, James Jnr and Edward were all apprentice machine tool makers. 

Britain was at war with Germany for a second time in just over 20 years when hostilities broke out, September 3rd 1939, after tensions in Europe had been running high and Adolph Hitler invaded Poland. 

James Ferrie Jnr during WW2 joined the Merchant Navy but did not survive the conflict. 

Ann Ferrie nee Lumsden died in 1953, her widower James Ferrie in 1960, both registered in the district of Gateshead, historically in County Durham.

Their surviving children all lived into their 80s. Edward Ferrie died in Gateshead in 2004, Ann Lumsden Ferrie, Joseph Ferrie and Thomas Ferrie emigrated to Australia, they died in 2004, 2005 and 2006 respectively,

In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.