James Paumea Ferris

Born 24 Oct 1888 - Died 26 Nov 1948

Service number: WWI 16/50 AWMM
WWII N/N AWMM
WWII: N/N
Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 2 March 2016 - Military Record
Also known as: —
Armed force / branch: Army AWMM
WWII: based at Auckland Military Headquarters
Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 2 March 2016 - Military Record
1st NZ Maori Contingent, transferred to 2nd NZ Maori Pioneer Btn
Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 2 March 2016 - Military record
Last rank: —
War: World War I, 1914-1918 AWMM
World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM
World War II 1939-1945
Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 2 March 2016 - Military Record

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James Paumea Ferris — Officers of the Māori Contingent: leaders of New Zealand's native troops, who have earned a high reputation as fighters at the Dardanelles. Showing officers of the Maori contingent. Back row left to right: Lieutenants Stainton, Hetet, Tikao, Walker, Neroti, Kaipara and Coupar. Front row left to right: Lieutenant Ferris, Chaplain Wainohu, Dr Buck, Captain Eunes [Ennis], Major A H Herbert, Captains Pitt, Dansey, Jones and Tohiwi. Supplement to the Auckland Weekly News, 2 September 1915, p.48. Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections AWNS-19150902-48-01. No Known Copyright Restrictions

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Wars and conflicts

War: World War I, 1914-1918 AWMM
World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM
World War II 1939-1945
Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 2 March 2016 - Military Record
Campaign: WWII: Home Duties
Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 2 March 2016 - Military Record
Egyptian, & Western European
Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 2 March 2016 - Military record
Armed force / branch: Army AWMM
WWII: based at Auckland Military Headquarters
Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 2 March 2016 - Military Record
1st NZ Maori Contingent, transferred to 2nd NZ Maori Pioneer Btn
Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 2 March 2016 - Military record
Service number: WWI 16/50 AWMM
WWII N/N AWMM
WWII: N/N
Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 2 March 2016 - Military Record
Military service: 1914-1916 & 1916-1919 WWII: 1939-1945
Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 2 March 2016 - Military record
Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers: —

Military decorations

Medals and Awards: Victory Medal AWMM
British War Medal (1914-1920) AWMM
Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) (Military) AWMM
1914-1915 Star
British War Medal
Victory Medal
1939-1945 War Medal
NZ Defence Medal
1944 awarded (M.B.E.) Member of the Most Excellent Order, of the British Empire
Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 2 March 2016 - Military record

Training and Enlistment

Military training: WWII: 4 1/2 yrs in WWI
Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 2 March 2016 - Military record
Branch Trade Proficiency: —
Enlistment: WW1 Unknown/Civilian AWMM
WW1 Unknown AWMM Farmer/Civilian AWMM
10 Oct 1914 at Tolaga Bay
1 Dec 1916 - NZ Duties due to illness
24 Sept1917 returned to 2nd NZMPB
Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 2 March 2016 - Military record
Age on enlistment: 26yrs 11 mths WWII: 52yrs
Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 2 March 2016 - Military record
Occupation before enlistment: —

Embarkations

Embarkation details: WW1 14 Feb 1915-26 Mar 1915 AWMM
HMNZT 20 AWMM Vessel was Warrimoo AWMM Lieutenant/Military AWMM B Company AWMM Not known AWMM
WW1 16 Jul 1917-16 Sep 1917 AWMM
HMNZT 88 AWMM Vessel was Athenic AWMM Lieutenant/Military AWMM 19th Reinforcements AWMM Maori Contingent AWMM
2nd Embarkation AWMM
WW2 Captain/Military AWMM New Zealand Army Temporary Staff AWMM
3rd Embarkation AWMM

Last known rank

Last rank: WWI: Lieutenant
WWII: Lieutenant Colonel
Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 2 March 2016 - Military record
Last rank: —

About death

Death: 26 Nov 1948 Public Source
Date of death: 26 Nov 1948
Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 2 March 2016 - Military record & BMD NZ Records
Age at death: 61yrs
Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 2 March 2016 - Military record & BMD NZ Records
Place of death: Wellington, NZ
Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 2 March 2016 - Military record & BMD NZ Records
Cause of death: —
Death notes: James Paumea FERRIS died 26 Nov 1948 in Wellington aged 61yrs
Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 2 March 2016 - Military record & BMD NZ Records
Cemetery: —
Cemetery name: The Ferris's Rakau a Aue Urupa, Wainui Beach, Gisborne
Public - Lorraine Mona - Researcher - 7 December 2023 - This is the Ferris Family's Urupa
Grave reference: —
Obituary: Held a day earlier than had been intended, the burial of the late Mr. James Paumea Ferris brought together yesterday a substantial gathering of his former friends, who took part in a memorial service at Poho-o-Rawiri & later paid their last tributes at the graveside in a Maori burial-ground at Wainui.
European & Maori returned servicemen provided the pall- bearers, both at the Kaiti pa & later at the cemetery, & the services were conducted by the Rev. W. Mataira, a feature being the rendering of a hymn especially popular with the Maori soldiers in both WWs.
Prominent among the friends gathered for the occasion was Mr T Omana, MP for the Eastern Maori electorate, & Maori Affairs Department associates of the late Mr Ferris. Wairoa & southern Maori communities were represented by Messrs A T Carroll and H Rankin. Gathering at Poho-o-Rawiri In accordance with Maori custom, the funeral was followed by a further gathering at Poho-o-Rawiri, where opportunity was taken to express sympathy with the relatives of the deceased & acknowledge, on behalf of those closest to the late Mr Ferris, the condolences of those who had come some distance to attend the ceremonies. The presence of a strong delegation of European returned men was referred to by Messrs Omana, Carroll, & Rankin, who spoke with appreciation of the comradely spirit this indicated.
They also tendered warm thanks to Judge H Carr, as one who served not only as a director in this district of Maori affairs, but also assisted to interpret the Maori spirit to the European community. His work, said Mr Rankin, must help not only to give Europeans confidence in the conduct of Maori affairs, but also to give the Maori people confidence in themselves.
Acknowledging the references to the presence of European returned men, Mr. Gordon Jones assured the gathering that he & his associates came not as Europeans among Maoris, but as friends & comrades of the late Mr Ferris among other friends & comrades, to pay the tribute due
Public - Lorraine Mona - Researcher - 7 December 2023 - BURIAL AT WAINUI: TRIBUTE TO LATE MR. JAMES P. FERRIS
GISBORNE HERALD, VOLUME LXXV, ISSUE 22806, 29 NOVEMBER 1948, PAGE 4
Memorial name: —
Memorial reference: —

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James Paumea Ferris

James Paumea Ferris

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