MR. JOHN SYDNEY PERRIS Advice has been received of the death, at Ruatoria, of Mr. John Sydney Ferris, aged 55 years, second son of 'the late Captain Charles William Ferris, a pioneer settler of Poverty Bay. Born in Sydney in the year 1881, the deceased came to New Zealand with his mother to join his father and brothers, who were then farming a large property at' Ormond. He received his education at the Gisborne School and at Wellington College. On leaving college he was placed on a large station on the East Coast to gain pastoral experience, where he worked until 1900, when he enlisted at the age of 19 with the 5th New Zealand Contingent for service in South Africa during the Boer War. On returning to New Zealand and receiving his discharge at the end of the war, he took up farming operations with his brother on a property on the East Coast, continuing in that capacity until ,1916, when he enlisted for service overseas with the New Zealand’ Expeditionary Force, during the Great War. He served with his unit in Egypt and France, and towards the end of the war he was transferred to' the permanent staff of the New Zealand Command Depot, Codford, England. On returning to New Zealand, he commenced farming his own freehold interests at Ruatoria, where he resided until the time of his death. Mr. Ferris was predeceased by his wife in the year 1912, and leaves a family of three, and one brother, Mr. Charles Ferris, of Wainui, to mourn his loss. The members of his immediate family are Messrs Charles William Ferris, of Ruatoria, farmer, and Cecil George Ferris, of Tikitiki, farmer, and Mrs. Sarah Jane Cooper, Gisborne.
Public - Lorraine Mona - Researcher - 18 June 2024 - OBITUARY
POVERTY BAY HERALD, VOLUME LXIII, ISSUE 18987, 11 APRIL 1936, PAGE 4