On Tower Hill Memorial, Trinity Square, London is the name of Fourth Engineer Officer James Ferrie serving S.S. Waziristan (Newcastle on Tyne) with the Merchant Navy who died 02/01/1942.
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
James Ferrie was one of 5 children, offspring of ex-Sapper James Ferrie, Royal Engineers who had survived the conflict of WW1, born in Felling, Gateshead, historically in County Durham, September 26th 1885 and 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 and Annie’s children were all 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 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 serving as 4th Engineer Officer aboard the S.S. Waziristan (Newcastle on Tyne) which was a British Cargo Steamer built in 1924.
The S.S. Waziristan was last reported as seen by Cold Harbour in bad weather, January 1st 1942. She had left New York, November 23rd, en-route to Murmansk, Russia with a general cargo, part of Convoy Pq 7A. Unescorted the S.S. Waziristan became stranded in ice, a sitting duck for the Luftwaffe, she was damaged by bombing and then attacked by German U-Boat U-134, January 2nd 1942, commanded by Rudolf Schendel.
The first two torpedoes launched at 06.22 and 06.39 hours missed, a third launched at 06.48 hit the vessel. German log book records state that the crew was observed abandoning ship before she broke in two at 07.20 hours and sank 20 miles South of Bear Island in the Barents Sea off the coast of Norway. The Master, 38 members of the crew and 10 gunners all perished.
4th Engineer Officer James Ferrie was reported as missing presumed drowned. His sacrifice is recorded as one of 36,085 names inscribed on the Tower Hill Memorial which stands on the south side of Trinity Square, London commemorating men and women of the Merchant Navy and Fishing Fleets who perished in both World Wars and who have no known grave or where no permanent memorial could be raised. 4th Engineer Officer James Ferrie was 20 years of age and single. Awards; British War Medal and Victory Medal.
His 1st cousin Daniel Peter Ferrie was also lost at sea during WW2.
Ann Ferrie nee Lumsden died in 1953, her widower James Ferrie in 1960, both registered in the district of Gateshead, historically in County Durham.
James’ sibling all survived 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.
James Ferrie is remembered in our List of Ships’ Crews.
