2nd Lieutenant William Small Ferris
12th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles
7th June 1917
​
Born in Belfast on 31-12-1887.
His parents were the Reverend Caldwell Ferris(1841-28-08-1898),a Presbyterian Minister and Elizabeth(nee Small(married 1874)),born in 1843.
In the Irish census of 31-03-1901 he is recorded as living in Belgravia Street Belfast County Antrim.
In the Irish Census on 02-04-1911,he is recorded as living at
4 Sandown Park, Knock,Belfast and being employed as a Marine Engineer.
He had 3 brothers,Hugh Hubert,John Hewitt(both born in 1877) and Charles James(born on 03-06-1880).
He also had 3 sisters,Emily Elizabeth(born in 1882),Sarah Houston(born in 1883) and Mary Isabel (1885-1921).
He attended Sherry's Civil Service College and was a sampler for Brakpan Mines Ltd in the Transvaal from June 1912 to May 1913 and then employed as a shift boss until
December 1915.
He served with 2nd Transvaal Scottish Regiment as a Private(5379) in German South West Africa and then as a Private (c36/29418) in France with the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers before being commissioned in the Royal Irish Rifles on 04-08-1916.
He was killed in action on 07-06-1917.
In his will,he left effects of £589 11s
(worth today £46,268.54) to his mother. *
*Source:- Hellfire Corner Website