Company Sergeant Major 4849
David FERRIS. G Coy, 2nd Royal Irish Rifles
Born 13 November 1879 at Glasker, near Banbridge County Down to William and Jane Ferris, nee McCrudy. Irish 1901 census with his parents and siblings at 39 Eastland Street, Woodvale, Belfast
Husband of Elizabeth Emily Ferris of 86, Church St., Newtownards, Co. Down.
He is Mentioned in Despatches.
Died in a German Prisoner of War Hospital at Flavey-Le-Martel 26 March 1918 aged 39 years of wounds received in action. His widow was awarded a gratuity 14 April 1920.
He is commemorated on the McVeigh headstone at Movilla Cemetery Newtownards County Down Northern Ireland also on the Pozieres Memorial, France
P.O.W. reference, found in Army Register of Soldiers Effect 1901-1929, Ancestry
International Committee of the Red Cross
https://www.icrc.org/en/archives
“First World Wars search for a prisoner found David listed. The report states that he died of two broken legs (possible from infection) at Flavy-Le-Martel and buried there in a common grave.”
They probably would have used an existing cemetery/churchyard for burials if it was near. The hospital location in the village may have been near the main road through the village (looking at Google Map) it would have taken about 2 minutes’ walk from Flavy-Le-Martel to the cemetery.
It appears that his grave was not found after the war. Hopefully someday a search will be conducted at that site, that he and others may be found.
According to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission in May and June, 1918, a German field hospital for prisoners was at Flavy-le-Martel, and soldiers from the United Kingdom who died in the hospital were buried in Annois Communal Cemetery.
(CWGC N.B.)
The commemoration for this casualty has recently been transferred to this Memorial. (Pozieres Memorial). However, it is not currently physically possible to add his name to the Memorial. Please contact the Commission before planning a visit, for more information. Please note that this casualty’s name is engraved on the Thiepval Memorial and his name can be viewed on pier 15 of this memorial.
