b. 25/05/1867 Broughton Ferry, Cumberland. d. 12/1948 Whitehaven, Cumberland.
DATE OF EM ACTION: 11/05/1910 Wellington Colliery, Whitehaven, Cumberland.
Thomas was one of eight children born to John and Catherine Ferryman (nee Ruddy), and moved to Whitehaven when he was two years old. For the rest of his childhood, the family lived at 33 Front Row, New Houses, in the Preston Quarter. In 1888, he married Sarah McGorian, and they went on to have eleven children, the last born in 1908. Thomas and Sarah lived in 70 Back Row, near to where he lived as a child. Tragically, in the incident at Wellington Colliery which led to the award of the Edward Medal, he sadly lost his son, James Oswald Ferryman, who was killed in the roof fall. Little else is known of his later life. By 1939 he had retired from the colliery, his wife had passed away, and he was living in 10 Mid Street, Kells, Whitehaven. He died in the winter of 1948, aged 81.
EM CITATION:
In addition to the names which appeared in the London Gazette of the 22nd of July, 1910, His Majesty has been graciously pleased to award the Edward Medal of the Second Class to the workmen whose names appear below on account of their conspicuous bravery in connection with the attempt made to rescue their fellow workmen at the Wellington Pit, Whitehaven, on the 11th of May, 1910:— Fletcher Young. Edward McKenzie, Senior. Edward McKenzie, Junior. George Henry. James Scawcroft. John McAllister. William Ginbey. Thomas Birkett. Thomas Donald. Joseph Cowan. Hugh McKenzie. Allinson Mathers. John Hampson. Thomas Ferryman.
BURIAL LOCATION: WHITEHAVEN CEMETERY, WHITEHAVEN, CUMBERLAND.
WARD 6 SECTION L, GRAVE 71.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: UNKNOWN.