1915 West Point Class Ring For Brigadier General Benjamin Greeley Ferris – SOLD

Description

1915 West Point Class Ring For Brigadier General Benjamin Greeley Ferris.  The ring was made in 14 K Gold by Bailey, Banks & Biddle, Philadelphia, known for their fine quality military and society jewelry and insignia.  It is numbered “46” and mostly related to the order number ( not his class ranking which was “104”).  Engraved, “Benjamin Greeley Ferris / United States Military Academy.”  The gold ring is identical to those belonging to General’s Eisenhower, and Bradley (their rings are pictured below in order). Each of the rings have different stones (no doubt a choice issue); General Ferris’ having a black Onyx with engraved Seal of West Point’s Spartan helmet, and legend on the outer circumference. It was engraved in reverse, and assumed this was done to act as a signet- making a seal in wax, etc.  The ring shows some wear to the gold, and the Onyx has a couple of small chips beneath the helmet, otherwise fine.

 

Benjamin G. Ferris (1892 – 1982). was born in Pawling, New York. After graduating from the USMA, he entered his military service with the 12th Infantry as a 2nd lieutenant, at Nogales, Arizona until 1917, then moved with his company to the Presidio, San Francisco, California. He had several moves to various camps in the U.S. and then was detailed as district inspector at Boston in March of 1919. That same year he became Professor of Military Science and Tactics at Connecticut Agriculture College. In 1921, he became Professor under the same title, at Boston University for the ’21 school year.

From September of 1921 to April of 1924, General Ferris was assigned to the 27th Infantry at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, and afterward, went to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas and graduated from the Command and Staff School in 1925.  He was then assigned to the 5th Infantry and became an instructor at the Infantry School, at Fort Benning, Georgia, then enrolled in the Tank School, at Fort Meade, Maryland in September of 1931, and assigned to the Office of the Chief of Infantry in Washington, D.C.

The remainder of the 1930’s involved more military schools, work with the Civilian Conservation Corps, assignment with the 66th Infantry, and sent to Governor’s Island, New York (Harbor) on staff of the 2nd Corps Area as G-4 (Supply). In April of 1941, Governor’s Island became the new headquarters for the 1st Corps Area, in December a new assignment with the 5th Infantry Division, and  that unit received an overseas assignment.

In December of 1943, General Ferris was made Deputy Chief of Staff, U.S. Army Forces in the China-Burma-India Theater of Operations, and returned to the U.S. the following December of 1944, becoming a Member of the Equipment Review Board, Headquarters, Army Ground Forces, Washington, D.C.  While in The CBI, General Ferris was Assistant Chief of Staff to General Stilwell, with HQ at Chungking, China (for political purposes); the real administrative HQ was in New Delhi, India. See Photos of his “Unclassified” Information for this assignment and duties there.  With the establishment of the secondary HQ in New Delhi, “Madame Chiang was informed of the  new arrangement and she made no objection, that announcement is being made of transfer of General Ferris, here to “strengthen” these HQ, and that HQ in China actually remain as they have been before.” Some initial rumors had caused some problems politically with the Chinese government, thinking the US Army was pulling out of China, but were resolved without too much further troubles.

After WWII, General Ferris held a couple of staff positions, and his last assignment was Director of Civil Affairs Division, European Command. He retired in 1951.

The USMA Class of 1915 is significant due to the term that was applied to the 1915 graduates, “the class the stars fell on.” The prior honor of that title had been given the Class of 1886, where 25 cadets out of 77 (32%) had achieved the rank of general during WWI. That class graduated the likes of John J. Pershing (Commanding Gen, of the A.E.F.), Charles T. Menoher (Chief of Air Service), and Patrick Mason (another Chief of Air Service in WWI).

The Class of 1915 produced 59 cadets who wore the rank of general officer during WWII, out of a graduating class of 164 (36%); these included Dwight D. Eisenhower, Omar Bradley, Joseph T. McNarney, James Van Fleet, Stafford Leroy Irvin, George E. Stratemeyer.  One classmate, who did not fair too well in WWII, was General Henry J.F. Miller, while serving in London, made comments publicly concerning the Allied invasion of Northern Europe (D-Day). After his classmate, General Eisenhower heard about the incident, he sent Miller packing to the States.  Miller was demoted to lieutenant colonel. He retired for “physical disability” in 1944.

I have no idea how many rings have come to the marketplace, to be available for historians and or collectors, with the likelihood, a number of them were either donated to West Point, or remain with the families of this class.  The percentage of those who were promoted to general officer has to be significantly less.

I have included The 1915 Howitzer, and The Twenty Year Book Class of 1915 U.S.M.A. The spine of the Howitzer has some issues; the body of the yearbook is sound, and the cover is fine and is a great addition for General Ferris’ ring. The Twenty Year Book, as some damage on the right side cover edge, but the book is tight.  I added a general’s star for display as well. These last 3 items mentioned are not General Ferris’ but are original Class of 1915 year books and insignia.

A very historic, and valuable American military group.

Photos of the general are photocopies taken from official files.

 

Below are the class rings of, first; D.D. Eisenhower, then Omar Bradley, and the photo is of the USMA Class of 1915.