SAPPER JAMES FERRIES
995 – 3rd Tunnelling Company
James Ferries stated he was born in 1889 in Cambusnethan, Lanarkshire, Scotland the son of Richard Ferries. He came to Australia leaving Liverpool, England and arrived at Fremantle, Western Australia in November, 1912 on the Steamer Belgic under Master of the Ship Captain J.H.A. Thornton. His details in the passenger list were:
James Ferries Scotch 23 Agricultural
News of the arrival was published in the:
Two years later at the recruiting depot in Perth on November 3, 1915 the twenty-five year old dairyman applied to enlist for active service abroad and passed the preliminary medical examination. Personal particulars taken show his postal address was Albert Street, Osborne Park and was 174cms (5ft 8¼ins) tall, with a chest measurement of 97cms (38ins) and was single. Declared fit his application was accepted by the recruiting officer.
Attestation Forms were completed the same day adding further details of weight 70kgs (154lbs) with a chest expansion of 87-97cms (34-38ins) with a fresh complexion, blue eyes and fair hair. Religion was Roman Catholic. Distinctive marks were two vaccination scars on his right arm and a scar on the left upper lip. Next-of-kin was his father Richard Ferries of Cambusnethan, Lanarkshire, Scotland. He was sworn in the same day.
Basic training commenced with the 35th Depot Battalion on November 9, 1915 in the rank of Private until transferred to the Mining Corps on November 30, 1915.
Recruiting for the Miners’ Corps officially began on December 1st, 1915 therefore Sapper Ferries was placed for basic training at the Helena Vale camp at Blackboy Hill, W.A. with the newly forming Corps.
The Unit’s title was the No. 3 Company with a major portion of No. 3 Company recruited by 2nd Lt. L.J. Coulter, A.I.F. who was sent from N.S.W. to W.A. for that purpose. They were made up to strength with 1 Officer and 274 Other Ranks and embarked from Fremantle, W.A.
On December 18, 1915 the company sailed for Sydney, NSW on board the troopship SS Indarra. His name appears on the passenger list which was published in:
On Boxing Day (Dec 26th), 1915 the Unit arrived in Sydney and marched into Casula Camp, near Liverpool, NSW. They were joined by the 4th Section of the Tasmanian Miners, bringing the establishment strength up to 15 officers and 349 Other Ranks under the command of 2nd Lieutenant L.J. Coulter.
Mining Corps Units from all Military districts came together at Casula camp, near Liverpool, NSW to complete training as a Corps. Ferries was assigned the regimental number 995 in the rank of Sapper and remained in No. 3 Company.
At a civic parade in the Domain, Sydney on Saturday February 19, 1916, a large crowd of relations and friends of the departing Miners lined the four sides of the parade ground. Sixty police and 100 Garrison Military Police were on hand to keep the crowds within bounds. The scene was an inspiriting one. On the extreme right flank, facing the saluting base, were companies of the Rifle Club School; next came a detachment of the 4th King’s Shropshire Light Infantry, then the bands of the Light Horse, Liverpool Depot, and the Miners’ on the left, rank upon rank, the Miners’ Battalion.
The Corps boarded HMAT A38 Ulysses in Sydney, NSW on February 20 and sailed for the European theatre. Arriving in Melbourne, Victoria on February 22 the Miners camped at Broadmeadows for a stay of 7 days while further cargo was loaded.
Another parade was held at the Broadmeadows camp on March 1, the Miners’ Corps being inspected by the Governor-General, as Commander-in-Chief of the Commonwealth military forces.
Leaving Melbourne on March 1, Ulysses arrived at Fremantle, Western Australia on March 7 where a further 53 members were taken on board.
On Wednesday March 8, 1916 the whole force, with their band and equipment, paraded at Fremantle prior to leaving Victoria Quay at 9.30 o’clock.
The ship hit a reef when leaving Fremantle harbour, stripping the plates for 40 feet and, although there was a gap in the outside plate, the inner bilge plates were not punctured. The men on board nicknamed her ‘Useless’. The Miners were off-loaded and sent to the Blackboy Hill Camp where further training was conducted.
The Mining Corps comprised 1303 members at the time they embarked with a Headquarters of 40; No.1 Company – 390; No.2 Company – 380; No.3 Company – 392, and 101 members of the 1st Reinforcements.
Finally departing Fremantle on April 1, Ulysses voyaged via Suez, Port Said and Alexandria in Egypt. The Captain of the shipwas reluctantto take Ulysses out of the Suez Canal because he felt the weight of the ship made it impossible to manoeuvre in the situation of a submarine attack. The troops were transhipped to HM Transport B.1 Ansonia, then on to Valetta, Malta before disembarking at Marseilles, France on May 5, 1916. As a unit they entrained at Marseilles on May 7 and detrained on May 11 at Hazebrouck.
A ‘Mining Corps’ did not fit in the British Expeditionary Force, and the Corps was disbanded and three Australian Tunnelling Companies were formed. The Technical Staff of the Corps Headquarters, plus some technically qualified men from the individual companies, was formed into the entirely new Australian Electrical and Mechanical Mining and Boring Company (AEMMBC), better known as the ‘Alphabetical Company’.
Four sections of the No. 3 Company were dispersed to various sectors for instructional training. Sapper Ferries was assigned to No. 4 Section and attached for duty in the field with the 254th Tunnelling Company, Royal Engineers on May 13, 1916.
The No. 3 Company was officially transferred to the 3rd Tunnelling Company in the field on December 18, 1916.
His name and results appear in the Unit Diary of the 3rd Tunnelling Company after completing a Mine Listener’s Course at the Army Mine School with details as:
“Herewith extract from report on N.C.O.’s and men who attended special 7 days listening course at Mine School, ending 24/1/17
Sapper 4328FlaneganFailed
Sapper 995FerriesGood
27/1/17”
From October 24 until November 3, 1917 leave from France was granted.
Disciplinary action was taken for the following on November 7, 1917:
Crime:In the field while on active service
A.W.L. for two days from 5/11/17 – 6/11/17
Award:Forfeit 7 day’s pay
Total forfeiture:9 day’s pay
For serving two years abroad he was issued with three Blue Chevrons to wear on his uniform on February 20, 1918.
He was counted in an audit of the Company on October 1, 1918.
Leave from France was issued from November 8, 1918 and while on leave Peace was declared and returned to duty on November 28, 1918.
The Tunnelling Companies remained on the front as part of the Army of Occupation assisting with rehabilitation of their districts by clearing roads and bridges of booby traps left by the enemy.
Orders were received on February 6, 1919 to prepare for demobilisation and return to the Aust General Base Depot. They marched out for England on February 21, 1919 crossing the English Channel and arrived at the Reserve Brigade Aust Artillery camp at Heytesbury a day later.
On March 26, 1919 he left the 1st Aust General Hospital at Sutton Veny for the No. 3 Group camp at Codford to await his voyage home.
After demobilisation Sapper Ferries departed Devonport, England on April 19, 1919 on board the H.T. Sardinia. The ship docked at Fremantle (5th Military District) on May 28, 1919. News of their arrival was published in:
Military Discharge was issued in Perth (5th M.D.) on July 12, 1919 on termination of his period of enlistment.
For serving his country Sapper 995 James Ferries, 3rd Tunnelling Company was issued with the British War Medal (8107) and the Victory Medal (8073).
These medals were unclaimed at the designated barracks and returned to Base Records on September 20, 1924.
An inquiry to the District Finance Officer (5th M.D.) for the current address of the former soldier was made on November 22, 1924 and given as Albert Street, Osborne Park.
In 1925 he is listed in the Electoral Roll working as a labourer and residing at Albert Street, Osborne Park.
It is possible that James Ferries returned to Scotland as there are no details of him after these years.
A Statement of Service was requested from the Perth Branch of the Repatriation Commission from Base Records and forwarded on December 4, 1952.
© Donna Baldey 2016