Ferris, Francis Paul (Frank)
Private
No. 29757, 1st Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
Killed in action on Tuesday 20 November 1917 (aged 34)
No known grave
Commemorated:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Cambrai Memorial, France (Panel 5 and 6)
Harland & Wolff (Queen’s Island) War Memorial
Brother of Private David Ferris (No. 64)
BIOGRAPHY
In the Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914 – 1919 database it is recorded that Private Frank Ferris (No. 29757) was born in Holywood and enlisted in Glencorse, Scotland.
Private Frank Ferris (No. 29757) served with the 1st Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers and he was killed in action on 20 November 1917 during the Battle of Cambrai.
It was noted in Army records that his sole legatee was his cousin, Miss Emma Lovedale.
In the 4 April 1918 edition of the Belfast Telegraph it was reported that Mr W.J. Ferris of Dunaden, Martinez Avenue, Bloomfield had been informed that his brother, Private Frank Ferris, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers had been killed in action. The report also stated that another brother, Private David Ferris, Australian Forces, had been reported a prisoner-of-war in July 1916 ‘but up to the present his relatives have received no word from him’. It was also reported that Private Frank Ferris had previously been employed at the Queen’s Island where he worked as a plater’s helper.
Francis Paul (Frank) Ferris was born on 12 May 1883 in Kinnegar, Holywood and he was a son of James and Margaret Ferris (nee Geoghegan, sometimes Keegan) who were married on 24 October 1867 in Aghaderg Parish Church of Ireland Church, Loughbrickland, Co Down. James Ferris, a ploughman from the townland of Drumnahare, was a son of Robert Ferris, a labourer. Margaret Geoghegan from Drumnahare was a daughter of James Geoghegan, a farmer.
James and Margaret Ferris (nee Geoghegan, sometimes Keegan) had at least five children:
William James (born 24 July 1868 in Naas, Co Kildare; married Louisa Reid on 24 December 1891 in Belmont Presbyterian Church, Belfast; died of a fractured skull on 27 November 1919 in a cycling accident)
Thomas (born 22 February 1872 in Ballymave, Magheragall)
David (born 16 February 1877 in Knocknagoney)
Mary Helena (born 23 March 1880 in Kinnegar, Holywood)
Francis Paul (Frank, born 12 May 1883 in Kinnegar, Holywood)
Private Frank Ferris (No. 29757) has no known grave and is commemorated on the Cambrai Memorial in France and on the Harland & Wolff (Queen’s Island) War Memorial.