FERRIS, Frederick Aston
| Service Numbers: | 46, 31606, 38260 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 15 February 1901, WO127 Nominal Roll. |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | Unspecified British Units |
| Born: | Port Albert, Victoria, Australia, 1870 |
| Home Town: | Corryong, Towong, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Died: | Peritonitis, Middleburg, Transvaal, South Africa, 6 February 1902 |
| Cemetery: |
Old Middelburg Municipal Cemetery, Mpumalanga, South Africa |
| Memorials: |
Boer War Service
| 1 Oct 1899: | Involvement Private, 46, 1st Victorian Mounted Rifles | |
|---|---|---|
| 28 Oct 1899: | Embarked Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 46, 1st Victorian Mounted Rifles, Embarked from Melbourne on the "Medic" Troop Transport. | |
| 26 Nov 1899: | Involvement Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 46, 1st Victorian Mounted Rifles, The Boer Offensive | |
| 5 Nov 1900: | Embarked Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 46, 1st Victorian Mounted Rifles, Embarked from Cape Town on "Harlech Castle" to R.T.A. via Albany and Adelaide then home to Melbourne. | |
| 15 Feb 1901: | Enlisted Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Corporal, 31606, Unspecified British Units, WO127 Nominal Roll. | |
| 24 Sep 1901: | Discharged Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Corporal, 31606, Unspecified British Units, WO127 Nominal Roll. Time Expired Service Term. | |
| 28 Sep 1901: | Enlisted Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Sergeant, Unspecified British Units | |
| 28 Sep 1901: | Enlisted Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Sergeant, 38260, Unspecified British Units, WO127 Nominal Roll. New service number [38260] upon re-enlistment. | |
| 30 Oct 1901: | Wounded Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Sergeant, 38260, Unspecified British Units, Severely wounded in Battle of Brakenlaagte. | |
| 6 Feb 1902: | Discharged Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Sergeant, 38260, Unspecified British Units, WO127 Nominal Roll. D.O.D. |
Frederick Aston Ferris
Frederick Aston Ferris was the second son of Jacob Ferris of Port Albert and Helen Brown Ferris (née Nielson) of 52 Hanover Street, Windsor. He was born in 1870 at Port Albert, Victoria.
He joined the 1st Victorian Contingent (Service number 31606) on the 15th of March 1901 and was promoted to the rank of Corporal, being discharged at completion of service on the 24th of September 1901.
Four days later he enlisted in the 2nd Scottish Horse, being part of the Marquis of Tulilbardine's Scottish Horse, and made his way back to South Africa. Here he rose to the rank of Sergeant in the 2nd Battalion but was seriously wounded at Gun Hill, Bakenlaagte, on the 30th of October 1901. This action occurred when Boers attacked and crippled a British column commanded by Lieutenant Colonel G.E.Benson, who later died of wounds received in this encounter. Of the Scottish Horse, 33 were killed and a further 57 were wounded.
Upon recovering he applied for a commission with the unit. Unfortunately, he became dangerously ill with peritonitis and died of Enteric (Typhoid) fever on the 6th of February 1902 at Middleburg, Transvaal, South Africa.
For his services in South Africa, he was awarded the Queen's South Africa medal with four clasps (Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Johannesburg, and Diamond Hill) and the King's South Africa medal.
Submitted 6 January 2023 by Stephen Learmonth
Biography contributed by Stephen Learmonth
Frederick Aston Ferris was the second son of Jacob Ferris of Port Albert and Helen Brown Ferris (née Nielson) of 52 Hanover Street, Windsor. He was born in 1870 at Port Albert, Victoria.
He joined the 1st Victorian Contingent (Service number 31606) on the 15th of March 1901 and was promoted to the rank of Corporal, being discharged at completion of service on the 24th of September 1901.
Four days later he enlisted in the 2nd Scottish Horse, being part of the Marquis of Tulilbardine's Scottish Horse, and made his way back to South Africa. Here he rose to the rank of Sergeant in the 2nd Battalion but was seriously wounded at Gun Hill, Bakenlaagte, on the 30th of October 1901. This action occurred when Boers attacked and crippled a British column commanded by Lieutenant Colonel G.E.Benson, who later died of wounds received in this encounter. Of the Scottish Horse, 33 were killed and a further 57 were wounded.
Upon recovering he applied for a commission with the unit. Unfortunately, he became dangerously ill with peritonitis and died of Enteric (Typhoid) fever on the 6th of February 1902 at Middleburg, Transvaal, South Africa.
For his services in South Africa, he was awarded the Queen's South Africa medal with four clasps (Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Johannesburg, and Diamond Hill) and the King's South Africa medal.
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