Pauline Priano has submitted the following:
James Greener was the eldest of 2 sons, offspring of coal miner James William Greener known as William Greener and Mary Ann Hickey whom he married, November 13th 1912 in the district of Gateshead, historically in County Durham.
James was born, October 10th 1913 his brother Joseph William December 5th 1914, four months after the commencement of war with Germany, declared August 4th 1914.
During 1915 the British tunnelling companies were formed due to the discovery that the Germans were mining to a planned system, something that the British had failed to do. Kitchener and the French field marshals investigated the possibility and suitability of forming British mining units and the idea was approved and the scheme initiated February 19th 1915.
James’ father enlisted as William Greener, June 9th 1915, in response to the Government’s formation of tunnelling companies to which experienced miners many of whom were outside the normal recruitment age were posted. William Greener was assigned as Sapper 102566 Royal Engineers.
Private William Greener was reported as missing, August 29th 1915, and later officially declared as, “killed.” His sacrifice is recorded as one of over 72,000 names of servicemen from the United Kingdom and South Africa commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing, Somme, France who died on the Somme 1915-1918 and have no known grave. He was 34 years old. Awards; 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
James’ mother Mary Ann Greener remarried November 25th 1917 to widower and coal miner Daniel Ferrie, who had 2 sons, James born in 1902 and Michael, October 19th 1903. Daniel and Mary Ann had 3 children, Mary Jane born March 2nd 1919, Daniel Peter, August 21st 1920 and Teresa, October 16th 1925.
In 1939 the Ferrie family, with the exception of Daniel Peter, who had joined the Merchant Navy, were living at 138, Prince Edward Road East, South Shields, historically in County Durham.
James Greener had joined the Merchant Navy as a deck boy in 1929 aged 16 and went to sea, December 24th 1929, aboard the steam merchant Thirlby, en-route for the Black Sea. The Thirlby had been newly completed in February 1928 by Gray & Co. Ltd. and was owned by Sir R. Ropner & Co. Ltd both of West Hartlepool.
During WW2 James Greener served on tankers and cargo ships in The Atlantic and Arctic Convoys and by 1943 had been promoted through the ranks to Third Mate. His full service record had not been found, however, he received the following awards; 1939-1945 Star, 1939-1945 British War Medal, Arctic Star, Atlantic Star with French and German Clasp and The Soviet 40th Anniversary Medal, approved by H.M. The Queen and awarded to those who served in Royal Navy or Merchant Navy ships on Arctic Convoys.
James’ brother Joseph William Greener, served with the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, a Merchant Navy organisation made up of civilian crews, his step brother James Ferrie died during the evacuation from Dunkirk in 1940.
Mary Ann Ferris-Greener nee Hickey died in the district of South Shields, during the 2nd quarter (Apr/May/Jun) in 1941 having borne the loss of her first husband and stepson James Ferrie but neither she or her husband Daniel Ferrie, who died during the 1st quarter (Jan/Feb/Mar) 1942, lived to know of the fate that befell their only son Steward Daniel Peter Ferrie, Merchant Navy, who was lost at sea in 1942.
Third Mate James Greener was married, September 17th 1946, at St. Gregory’s R.C. Church, Harton, South Shields, to nurse Mary Elder also affectionately known as Maisie, born in 1915 at Galashiels, Scotland. Their first encounter took place at Ingham Infirmary where James received treatment for a dog bite. James and Maisie had three children, Elizabeth J., Joseph William and Ian A. Greener.
Third Mate James Greener resigned from the Merchant Navy in 1950.
After he left the Merchant Navy, James Greener was employed at the factory of British Celanese Ltd., Jarrow, which engaged in the production of high quality paints, British Celanese Ltd. was also the inventor of epoxy resin. He also worked for The Bushing Company of Hebburn, transformer and insulator manufacturers, as a hydraulic tester until his retirement.
Maisie Greener nee Elder died in 2005 in the district of South Shields, her demise was preceded by that of her 88 year old husband, James Greener, November 17th 2001, whose ashes were scattered at the mouth of the River Tyne, overlooked by the statue of naval hero, Vice Admiral Lord Cuthbert Collingwood.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
