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Ferryland District Military
World War I

Donated by Kevin Reddigan

 

World War I

With the start of World War I in the summer of 1914, Newfoundland, as part of the British Empire, was expected to do its part. However, after nearly a century of peace, Newfoundland had no military infrastructure, except for a branch of the Royal Naval Reserve. So in August 1914, following an official commitment to join the war, hasty preparations were made to recruit, train, and equip a fighting force scheduled to leave Newfoundland in October of that year. It appears that St. John's, being the most populous town and the hub of the war effort, provided the majority of the first recruits, mainly from the ranks of several church-sponsored (paramilitary) cadet corps. However, as the "war fever" gained momentum, and organization improved, more and more men from the outports were selected for the forces. The majority of available recruits were selected to serve in a land force, the (later Royal) Newfoundland Regiment, with lesser numbers selected for the Royal Naval Reserve and the Newfoundland Forestry Corps. Other Newfoundland recruits working in Canada, opting not to return home, joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF).

Within this great flurry, it appears there were very few voices of opposition to Newfoundland joining the war effort. However, from those districts that were predominately of Irish Roman Catholic origin, and still served by Irish born priests, there were rumours of an anti-war sentiment being vocalized by some clergy. Ferryland District was one such area. I have read that Father Lawrence Vereker, the Irish parish priest of Ferryland, was approached on this issue. After being briefed on current world events, it is said he conceded that, if the atrocities as outlined had been committed by the Germans, than it would be better to support the British. This was a troubled decade in Ireland, and it is likely that the retribution dealt those involved in the 1916 Easter Uprising in Dublin further served to raise questions in the minds of some of the Newfoundland Irish.

Although we can speculate that there may have been some soul searching, it is hard to gauge if any of this anti-British rhetoric dampened the enthusiasm of those intending to join the military. Ferryland District, although culturally regarded as being Irish, when looked at closely under the "genealogical microscope" is actually populated by descendants of settlers from Ireland, England, and Scotland. The lists (below) from Ferryland District reflect this mixture; the recruits being a cross-section of men from various ethnic origins, social standings, and religious affiliations.

Ferryland District ~ Royal Newfoundland Regiment ~ WW I

Reg No. Rank Name Date of enlistment Address at enlistment Date of Death Buried (or commemorated) at Notes
672 Pte Windsor, Wilfred Montgomery   Aquaforte 16-Oct-1978 Aquaforte Anglican Cemetery b. Nov. 10, 1892
301 Cpl Winsor, Stanley Charles 8-Sep-1914 Aquaforte 00-00-1945 Forest Rd. Anglican Cemetery, St. John's  
5764 Pte Carew, Aiden   Bauline East     b. Mar 1898 at Witless Bay, son of Matthew and Mary J. (Carey) Carew. After Matthew's death, his mother, Mary, remarried (George Colbert) and moved to Bauline.
5757 Pte Carew, Elias   Bauline East   St. Michael's Cemetery, Burnt Cove b. Apr. 1896 at Witless Bay, son of Matthew and Mary J. (Carey) Carew. After Matthew's death, his mother, Mary, remarried (George Colbert) and moved to Bauline.
4529 Pte Fahey, Andrew   Bay Bulls     Son of Constable Andrew J. and Catherine Fahey
626 Pte Frampton, John   Bay Bulls 1-Jul-1916 Knightsbridge Cemetery, Somme, France b. abt 1894, son of Robert and Emma Jane Frampton.
3336 Pte Frampton, William Henry 15-Dec-1916 Bay Bulls 00-00-1973 (New) Bay Bulls Anglican Cemetery b. abt. 1890, son of Robert and Emma Jane Frampton.
4151 Pte Kennedy, Rupert   Bay Bulls      
4388 L/Cpl Puddister, John Thomas   Bay Bulls 00-00-1972 Blue Hills Cemetery, Braintree, MA, USA b. Dec. 1897, son of Thomas and Dora Puddester.  Manifest records show that Thomas entered the US at Boston on Sept. 29, 1929. Name is given as Thomas P. on his headstone.
1305 Pte Quirk, Daniel Joseph   Bay Bulls     b. Mar 8, 1896, son of James and Matilda Quirk. In 1942, Daniel filled out a WWII draft registration in New York. It appears he may have still been single, since he gave his brother Henry, also in New York, as his point of contact.
1410 Pte Quirk, William F   Bay Bulls     b. Apr. 7 1889, son of James and Matilda Quirk. William travelled in and out of the US several times. It appears he was married, but it is not clear where his family lived. The last mention of William that I found was in 1946,  when he was headed for his brother Henry's address in New York.
1562 Pte Walsh, James 22-May-1915 Bay Bulls     b. abt 1889
4585 Pte Williams, Vincent   Bay Bulls      
942 Pte Walsh, Richard J 29-Jan-1915 Bay Bulls     Discharged Feb. 1, 1919; moved to Medford, MA in 1920.
1508 Pte White, John 28-Apr-1915 Bay Bulls Rd.     b. abt 1896
251 Pte Greene, Augustus Peter   Bell Island 00-00-1963? (Old) Cape Broyle Cemetery b. May 8, 1895 at Cape Broyle, son of Constable Thomas and Catherine (Fewer) Green(e). The three Green(e) brothers (Gus, Walter, and Greg) were all born at Cape Broyle, but their father was stationed at Bell Island at the time of WW I.
2843 CSM Greene, Gregory L 6-May-1916 Bell Island 11-Jan-1958 (Old) Cape Broyle Cemetery b. Oct. 21, 1896 at Cape Broyle, son of Constable Thomas and Catherine (Fewer) Green(e). Awarded Military Medal for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty on September 29th, 1918. See note for Augustus Greene.
5761 Pte Tee, William   Burnt Cove 00-00-1978 St. Michael's Cemetery b. Dec. 1896, son of William and Catherine TEE.? Surname written as LEE in his service record.
5756 Pte Brien, John Thomas   Cape Broyle     b. Aug 22, 1896, son of Stephen and  Ann (Howlett) Brien.
5758 Pte Brien, Vincent   Cape Broyle     b. May 22, 1896, son of Martin and Bridget (Kent) Brien.
5760 Pte Carew, Thomas   Cape Broyle 00-00-1982 (Old) Cape Bryoyle Cemetery b. Aug. 30, 1894, son of John  and Catherine (Delahunty) Carew.
1560 Pte Carew, Victor 22-May-1915 Cape Broyle 20-Nov-1917 Beaumont-Hamel (Nfld) Memorial; Somme, France b. Apr. 17, 1893, youngest son of Henry and Esther (Morry) Carew of Shore's Cove, Cape Broyle. Killed in action in France.
3140 Pte Carew, Vincent 9-Oct-1916 Cape Broyle 10-Jul-1917 Bard Cottage Cemetery Belgium b. July 26, 1891, son of Henry and Esther (Morry) Carew. Killed in action in France.
1387 Maj. Cashin, Peter 9-Apr-1915 Cape Broyle 21-May-1977 Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Mt. Pearl b. abt. Mar 8, 1890, son of Michael P. and Gertrude (Mullowney) Cashin.  Soldier, politician, anti-confederate.
5753 Pte Costello, William   Cape Broyle 30-Oct-1918 (Old) Cape Bryoyle Cemetery b. Dec 17, 1896, son of John and Ann (Gatherall) Costello. Died at Cape Broyle of pneumonia.
5755 Pte Martin, Joseph   Cape Broyle 23-Feb-1981 (Old) Cape Bryoyle Cemetery b. May 27, 1898, son of Charles and Mary Joe (Brien) Martin.
5279 Pte Rice, Arthur   Cape Broyle     b. Apr 12, 1899, son of Patrick and Emily (Cove) Rice.
1538 Pte Rossiter, Matthew 11-May-1915 Cape Broyle 1-Jul-1916 Beaumont-Hamel (Nfld) Memorial; Somme, France b. July 19, 1896, son of Joseph and the late Mary Ellen (Kenny) Rossiter.
3133 Pte Shannahan, Robert D 6-Oct-1916 Cape Broyle 23-Apr-1930 New York, USA b. abt. 1892 in Blackstone, MA, USA, son of John and Ann (Costello) Shannahan.  Family moved back to Cape Broyle, but Robert later returned to the US.
5759 Pte Walsh, Michael   Cape Broyle 1-Jan-1980 (Old) Cape Bryoyle Cemetery b. May 30, 1893, son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Boland) Walsh.
3466 Pte Canning, Charles 8-Feb-1917 Caplin Bay 13-Apr-1918 Beaumont-Hamel (Nfld) Memorial; Somme, France b. Oct 18, 1893, eldest son of Alfred and Mary (Swain) Canning. Believed to have died at Bailluel, France while being held as a prisoner of war.
5390 Pte Hayden, John   Caplin Bay 00-00-1967 Ferryland RC Cemetery b. Apr. 11, 1897, eldest son of John and Elizabeth (Gatherall) Hayden.
3073 Pte O'Toole, Allan 23-Aug-1918 Caplin Bay 4-Nov-1973 Ferryland RC Cemetery b. Jan 13, 1900, son of Martin and Mary (Condon) O’Toole.
3468 Pte Ryan, Michael 8-Feb-1917 Caplin Bay 4-Mar-1955 Ferryland RC Cemetery b. Aug. 30, 1896, son of Michael and Bridget (Lahey) Ryan.
4610 Pte O'Toole, Frank   Caplin Bay 10-Jul-1952 Ferryland RC Cemetery b. May 28, 1898, eldest son of Martin and Mary (Condon) O’Toole.
6316 Pte Aylward, Richard   Fermeuse      
5736 Pte Kenny, William J   Fermeuse      
4770 Pte Keough, James   Fermeuse      
2545 Pte O'Neill, Ambrose William 19-Apr-1916 Fermeuse 22-Apr-1917 Duisans British Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France b. abt Feb. 27, 1887, son of Paul and Mary O'Neill, of Admiral's Cove, Ferrneuse.
2263 Pte O'Neill, Patrick 15-Mar-1916 Fermeuse 9-Oct-1917 Beaumont-Hamel (Nfld) Memorial; Somme, France b. 1875, son of Michael and Elizabeth O'Neill, of Fermeuse.  Awarded Military Medal for bravery at Steenbeek. In the attack on the enemy near Langemarck on 16th August, 1917, as a company stretcher bearer during the advance, he showed great bravery and devotion to duty in bringing back wounded to the Dressing Station at Ruisseux Farm.
3027 Pte Barnable, John Joseph 14-Aug-1916 Ferryland 8-Apr-1925 Ferryland RC Cemetery b. Aug 17, 1893, son of Matthew and Mary (Brien) Barnable. He appears to have initially joined the Royal Naval Reserve (#1514X).
4965 Pte Browne, Patrick J   Ferryland      
3109 Pte Bryan, John 12-Sep-1916 Ferryland 20-Nov-1917 Marcoing British Cemetery, Nord, France b. Oct 18, 1893, son of Patrick and Mary (Ryan) Bryan.
1679 L/Cpl Cleary, David Robert 5-Jul-1915 Ferryland      
6006 Pte Clow, James   Ferryland      
3135 Pte Devereaux, Aiden 6-Oct-1916 Ferryland 20-Nov-1917 Beaumont-Hamel (Nfld) Memorial; Somme, France b. Oct 16, 1897, son of James and Mary (Walsh) Devereaux.
3152 L/Cpl Devereaux, John William 16-Oct-1916 Ferryland 17-Apr-1920 Ferryland RC Cemetery b. Oct 23, 1897, son of Michael and Annie (Lovett) Devereaux.
3044 Pte Farrell, Patrick Joseph 28-Aug-1916 Ferryland 1-Oct-1917 Brockwood Military Cemetery, Surrey, England b. Apr. 6, 1898, son of Patrick and Wineford (Kinsella) Farrell.
724 Pte Freebairn, Buchanan W 16-Dec-1914 Ferryland 23-Oct-1915 Addolorata Military Cemetery, Malta b. abt. 1893 at Placentia, son of Dr. R. Jardine and Sarah (Boyle) Freebairn. Part of British Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, August 20, 1915. Died of dysentery, in hospital at Malta, October 23, 1915.
2811 2/Lt Freebairn, Charles A 29-May-1916 Ferryland 20-Sep-1966 Ferryland RC Cemetery b. Jul 1896, at Manuels, Conception. Bay, son of Dr. R. Jardine and Sarah (Boyle) Freebairn.
4108 Pte Kinsella, William 14-Nov-1917 Ferryland 27-Mar-1961 Ferryland RC Cemetery b. Jan. 21, 1897, son of John and Mary (O'Neil) Kinsella.
726 Pte Morry, Howard 17-Dec-1914 Ferryland 8-Feb-1972 Ferryland RC Cemetery b. July 24, 1885, son of Thomas Graham and Catherine (White) Morry. See details of his "Life and Times" on the Morry family website: http://ca.geocities.com/cmorrye122@rogers.com/howard_morry.htm.
923 Pte O'Keefe, Thomas Joseph   Ferryland 18-Jan-1917   b. Oct 23, 1893, son of John and Esther (Sweeney) O'Keefe.
5754 Pte Melvin, Michael   La Manche      
5743 Pte Dillon, Frank   Mobile 00-00-1962 Mobile Cemetery  
6059 Pte Dober, Michael   Mobile 10-Dec-1918   Of Beau Bois, Burin. Buried at Mt Carmel Cemetery, St. John’s. Died of Pneumonia at Military Hospital, St. John's, Oct. 2, 1918
5745 Pte Kennedy, Michael J   Mobile 4-Feb-1969 Mobile Cemetery  
5748 Pte Quirk, Peter A.   Mobile     b. Nov. 20, 1896, son of Daniel Quirk. Peter travelled in and out of the US several times.  In 1942, he filled out a WWII draft registration while working in New Bedfod, Bristol, MA.. It appears he was still single.
4536 L/Cpl Brazil, James   Renews     b. abt Oct. 15, 1900, son of John and Mary (McCarthy) Brazil.
6003 Pte Coady, Richard   Renews     b. abt Jan. 22, 1897, son of Edward and Mary (Power) Coady.
4057 Pte Finney, William 11-Feb-1917 Renews     b. abt. Sep. 23, 1890, son of John Finney and Cristina Mercer?
4229 Pte Fowler, John W   Renews      
995 Pte Harding, William   Renews 9-Oct-1917 Beaumont-Hamel (Nfld) Memorial; Somme, France b. abt Oct 15,1888, son of Christopher and Mary (Gearin) Harding of Renews.
6282 Pte Hearn, John   Renews     b. abt May 1895, Mellville, MA, USA, son of John and Mary (Foley?) Hearn.
4542 L/Cpl McCarthy, Thomas   Renews      
266 Lt Greene, Walter Martin   St. John’s 20-Nov-1917 Marcoing British Cemetery, Nord, France b. Nov. 9, 1893, son of Thomas and Catherine (Fewer) Green(e). Awarded Distinguished Conduct Medal for conspicuous gallantry on the night of 4th/5th November, 1915, on the Gallipoli Peninsula (Caribou Hill). See note for Augustus Green
1485 Pte Barton, John   The Goulds 1-Jul-1916 Beaumont-Hamel (Nfld) Memorial; Somme, France b. abt 1887, son of William and Annie Barton, of "The Goulds" Bay Bull's Rd. Also comemmerated on a headstone in St. Kevin's RC Cemetery, "The Goulds".
3311 Pte Clarke, Thomas 9-Dec-1916 The Goulds 28-Sep-1917 Beaumont-Hamel (Nfld) Memorial; Somme, France b. abt 1898, son of John and Bridget Clarke of "The Goulds". Killed in action in France.
3310 Pte Frizele, Henry Joseph 9-Dec-1916 The Goulds 20-Nov-1917 Marcoing British Cemetery, Nord, France b. abt. 1898, son of Charles and Mary Frizell, of Goulds, Bay Bulls Rd. Killed in action in France.
3279 Pte Frizele, William Charles 28-Nov-1916 The Goulds 00-00-1988 Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Mt. Pearl b. abt 1895, son of Charles and Mary Frizell, of Goulds, Bay Bulls Rd.
5182 Pte Frizele, Richard Roy   The Goulds 00-00-1964 St. Kevin's RC Cemetery, The Goulds b. June 1897, son of Henry and Mary J. Frizzell. Headstone says he was born in 1894.
4316 Pte Hefferman, Michael   The Goulds 26-Dec-1979 St. Kevin's RC Cemetery, The Goulds b. abt 1892
3313 Pte Howlett, James Joseph 9-Dec-1916 The Goulds     b. abt 1897, son of Mr. John Howlett, "The Goulds", Bay Bulls Road.
3352 Pte Howlett, Pierre 20-Dec-1916 The Goulds     b. abt. 1898. Prisoner of War; Captured 4/13/1918 ; Repatriated 9/23/1918.
3381 Pte Ryan, William 2-Jan-1917 The Goulds     b. abt 1899
2341 Pte Walsh, J 27-Mar-1916 The Goulds 21-Aug-1917 Dozinghem Military Cemetery, Belgium b. abt 1890, son of Walter and Anastasia Walsh, of "The Goulds," Bay Bull's Rd. Died in German air raid on Hospital in France.
3312 Pte Williams, Weston 9-Dec-1916 The Goulds     b. abt 1898, son of Mr. Matthew Williams. Forest Pond, "The Goulds", Bay Bulls Rd.
1023 Pte Burke, Garrett   Tors Cove 7-Jan-1916 Knightsbridge Cemetery, Somme, France b. abt. 1891, son of Silvester and Mary Ellen Burke, of Tor's Cove.
3364 Sgt Dunphy, James 28-Dec-1916 Tors Cove 00-00-1981 Tors Cove Cemetery b. abt 1884
1194 Pte Fortune, William   Tors Cove 14-Apr-1917 Beaumont-Hamel (Nfld) Memorial; Somme, France b. abt. 1891, son of Sylvester Fortune, of Tor's Cove.
5810 Pte Howlett, John   Tors Cove      
551 Pte O'Driscoll, Albert S.   Tors Cove 1-Jul-1916 Y Ravine Cemetery, Somme, France. Also commemorated on a headstone in Tors Cove Cemetery. b. Dec 8, 1888, son of James and Sarah O'Driscoll, of Tors Cove.
996 Pte O'Driscoll, James William   Tors Cove 29-Oct-1977 Tors Cove Cemetery b. abt 1891
6084 Pte O'Driscoll, Lawrence   Tors Cove 00-00-1981 Tors Cove Cemetery b. abt 1895
3344 Pte Ronayne, Paul 18-Dec-1916 Tors Cove 30-Jun-1924 Illinois, USA b. abt 1886
4659 Pte Ronayne, William   Tors Cove      
717 Pte Driscoll, Michael 15-Dec-1914 Tors Cove Hill 14-Nov-1953 Tors Cove Cemetery b. abt 1884
4758 L/Cpl Armstrong, Martin   Witless Bay      
5746 Pte Armstrong, Patrick   Witless Bay      
4591 Pte Carter, James   Witless Bay      
6001 Pte Dunn, Sylvester   Witless Bay      
6109 Pte Maddigan, Matthew   Witless Bay 00-00-1985 Witless Bay Cemetery  
5035 Pte Murphy, Arthur   Witless Bay      
2968 Pte O'Brien, Michael J. 17-Jul-1916 Witless Bay 25-Oct-1918 Vichte Military Cemetery, Belgium b. abt 1900, son of Richard J. and Matilda O'Brien, of Witless Bay. Killed in action in France.
5749 Pte Vickers, John   Witless Bay      
5116 Pte Vickers, John   Witless Bay      
6018 Pte Vickers, Joseph   Witless Bay      
6012 Pte White, Martin   Witless Bay     b. Mar. 1, 1896. It appears Martin emigrated to the US about 1920 and lived in Brooklyn New York. In 1942, he filled out a WWII draft registration, giving his wife Bridget as a point of contact.
5744 Pte Yard, James   Witless Bay     son of Charles Yard. It appears James emigrated to Brooklyn, NY probably abt 1926.

Ferryland District ~ Royal Naval Reserve ~ WW I

Service No. Name Address at Enlistment Date of Death Buried (or commerated) at Notes
534X White, Alfred Aquaforte 26-Dec-1932 Aquaforte RC Cemetery b. abt. Jun. 13, 1889, son of Alfred and (Fanny James?) White.
1144X Power, Frederick W. Bay Bulls 24-Feb-1961 Our Lady of Mount Loretta RC Cemetery, Bay Bulls b. abt. 1883
2443X Williams, Joseph Bay Bulls      
743X Tobin, Michael Fermeuse     b. 1889, son of James and Margaret (Reddy) Tobin?
1514X Barnable, John Joseph Ferryland 08-Apr-1925 Ferryland RC Cemetery b. Aug 17, 1893, son of Matthew and Mary (Brien) Barnable.  John appears to have transferred to the Royal Newfoundland Regiment (#3027)
1433X Kavanagh, John J. Ferryland 03-Nov-1954 Ferryland RC Cemetery b. abt. Jun. 27, 1890, son of James and Ellen (Jordan) Kavanagh. Baptism record says he was baptised as John William.
2368X O'Neill, James Ferryland      
1488X Ryan, Patrick J. Ferryland 16-Apr-1959 Ferryland RC Cemetery b. Apr. 12, 1897, son of William and Mary (Paul) Ryan. He served in WWI and WWII.
1437X Williams, Ambrose Ferryland 29-Nov-1935 Ferryland RC Cemetery b. Aug. 21, 1879, son of James and Mary Anne (Hayden) Williams
1455X Berrigan, John Thomas Renews 18-Jan-1918 Beaumont-Hamel (Nfld) Memorial, Somme, France; also commemorated on a headstone in Renews Cemetery. b. abt. Oct 22, 1888, son of Edward and Elizabeth (Sheehan) Berrigan. Lost at sea on the HM Gambri, a British trawler, when it hit a mine and sank southeast of the Isle of Wight in the English Channel.
1272X Knox, Patrick J. Renews     b. 1891, at St. John’s, son of Patrick and Maggie (Stephenson) Knox
1456X Gearin, Patrick Renews, South Side 1952? Belvedere Cemetery, St. Johns? b. abt Apr. 9, 1895, son of William and Kate (Dunne) Gearin
2048X O'Keefe, David Tor's Cove      

Ferryland District ~ Newfoundland Forestry Corps ~ WW I

Reg. No Rank Name Address Date of Death Buried Notes
 
8352   Meaney, Basil   1979 Holy Sepulchre RC Cemetery, Mt. Pearl. b. Sept. 24,1898, son of Thomas and Anastasia (Delaney) Meaney, Caplin Bay. Died at St. John's. [Rank and address not given in located record, but known to be author's great-uncle].

Ferryland District ~ Canadian Expeditionary Force ~ WW I

Reg. No. Name Birth Date Place of Birth Next of Kin Notes
3185742 Ronayne, Patrick 07-Aug-1899 Tors Cove Pierce Ronayne, father, Tors Cove, Ferryland District, NF. pipefitter, drafted to 6 M.D. Ist Depot Battalion, Nova Scotia Regiment at Aldershot, N.S., 24-May-1918
4050606 Maloney, Thomas 09-Oct-1897 Bay Bulls Thomas Maloney, father, Bay Bulls, NF. fisherman, drafted to 6 M.D. Ist Depot Battalion, Nova Scotia Regiment at Aldershot, N.S., 27-May-1918

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