FERGUSON, George
| Service Numbers: | 1095, 1027, V6652 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 1 March 1915, Wangaratta, Victoria |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | 24th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Oxley, Victoria, Australia, 12 July 1895 |
| Home Town: | Wangaratta, Wangaratta, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Bobinawarrah State School, Wangaratta, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Died: | Natural causes, Victoria, Australia, 25 March 1989, aged 93 years |
| Cemetery: |
Milawa Cemetery, Victoria |
| Memorials: | Bobinawarrah Hurdle Creek State School Roll of Honour WW2, Wangaratta and District Victory Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 1 Mar 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Wangaratta, Victoria | |
|---|---|---|
| 11 Mar 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 1095, 23rd Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1 | |
| 8 May 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 1027, 24th Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1 | |
| 8 May 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, HMAT A14 Euripides | |
| 30 Aug 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 1027, 24th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli | |
| 14 Aug 1918: | Discharged AIF WW1 |
World War 2 Service
| 9 Oct 1940: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Sergeant, V6652 |
|---|
World War 1 Service
| Date unknown: | Involvement 24th Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières |
|---|
Hugh Ferguson senior - obituary Wednesday 18/12/1914 - Wangaratta Chronicle
Wangaratta Chronicle, Vic. - Wednesday, 18 December 1914.
DEATHS OF OLD RESIDENTS
MR HUGH FERGUSON,
BOBINAWARRAH.
The death occurred on Sunday morning at his home, "Graceville," Bobinawarrah, of Mr. Hugh Ferguson. For three years past Mr. Ferguson had been in failing health and death was due to anaemia, He had had the attention of several doctors, and also the benefit of the services of a trained nurse, in addition he was attentively cared for by Mrs Ferguson. The late Mr. Ferguson was 60 years of age and the eldest son of the late Mr. and Mrs John Ferguson of Milawa, who were amongst the earliest and most highly respected settlers in that district. He was born at Collingwood and with his parents went to Stanley where they lived for a few years, and fifty years ago removed to Bobinawarrah where Mr. Ferguson, Senr. took up land, naming the homestead "Graceville". There the family was reared and in later years Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson removed to Milawa, and the subject of this obituary having married Miss Janet Kerr of Milawa, took over the homestead, and resided at "Graceville" till the time of his death. Mr. Hugh Ferguson was of a quiet and unassuming disposition and by his pleasant and genial ways won the esteem and respect of everyone who came in contact with him; and so his death has been heard of with regret by his large circle of acquaintances. He was a splendid neighbour and useful resident to the district. He was a worthy member of the fine Ferguson family and much sympathy is felt
for Mrs Ferguson and the children in their bereavement. Mr. Ferguson carried on farming, grazing and dairying with success, a result due to his careful application of the sound grounding he received In his younger days from his father who was a fine stamp of the early pioneer. He was a lover of horses and bred many good and valuable animals. He was.a keen admirer of trotting horses and bred several which he sold at high prices and which afterwards won in good company in this district and other parts of the State. Amongst those he kept was Honest Lass, which has performed well. Mr. Ferguson took apart in district movements and always helped with his services and money any thing that was calculated to benefit the district. He was a director of' the successful Milawa Co-operative Butter Factory for many years and was a member of the Board of Management of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Milawa for twenty years, retiring from both those bodies recently on account of his health.
Besides Mrs Ferguson a family of six sons and two daughters survive, namely:-Jack, Norman, Hugh Valentine, Thomas Louder, George and Andrew Kerr and Misses Margaret and Grace Joan, all of whom reside at Bobinawarrah. The brothers and sisters of deceased are - Messrs Geo. W. and James Ferguson, Milawa; Mr. Douglas Ferguson, Bobinawarrah; Mrs J. G. Gardner, Milawa; Mrs. J. Henley, South Yarra; Mrs. W. Gray, Brunswick.
The funeral took place on Monday afternoon when the,remains were interred in the Milawa cemetery. The cortege, which consisted of sixty vehicles and a number of horsemen, was a very representative one. The burial service was read by the Rev. Mr. Jones and the funeral arrangements were carried out by Mr. G. V. Steele. The coffin bearers were four sons of deceased, viz., Messrs J. N., H. V., and T. L. Ferguson."
Submitted 6 May 2015 by Julianne Ryan
Biography
Father Hugh FERGUSON (b. 5/6/1853 Adelaide SA - d.13/12/1914 Milawa VIC) and
Mother Janet (known as Jean, nee KERR)-(b. 19/3/1858 Snake Valley VIC - 6/5/1939 Wangaratta, VIC)
living at Bobinwarrah, Wangaratta, Victoria
Siblings:
Sister Margaret Ferguson (b. 13/9/1885 Oxley VIC - d. 1951 Camberwell VIC)
Brother John Ferguson (b. 28/9/1887 Oxley VIC - d. lockjaw 25/1/1918 Wangaratta VIC)
m. Elizabeth Ruby Culph
c1. Hugh Valentine Ferguson (b. 23/1/1917 Wangaratta VIC - d. 1979 Yarra VIC)
c2. John Andrew Ferguson (b. 1918 - d. 1993 Wangaratta VIC)
Brother Norman Ferguson (b. 1889 Oxley VIC - d. 12/10/1917 France)
m. Rosina Myrtle Culph
c1. Thomas Ferguson (b. 25/4/1917 - d. 3/11/1972)
Brother Hugh Valentine Ferguson (b. 1891 Bobinawarrah VIC - d. 29/11/1915 Gallipoli)
Brother Thomas Louden Ferguson (b. 9/4/1893 - d. 9/4/1918 France)
Himself George Ferguson
Sister Grace Jeannie Ferguson (b. 11/9/1897 Oxley VIC - d. _____)
m. ____ Connors
c1. John Valentine Connors (b. 12/1/1922 - d. 18/7/1977)
Brother Andrew Kerr Ferguson (b. 16/8/1900 Wangaratta VIC - d. 30/4/1975 Frankston VIC)
m. Grace Marjory Swinton (b. 1901 Warnambool VIC - d. 29/11/1984 Bendigo VIC)
c1. Marjory Ann Ferguson
Next of kin in service:
Brother 2316 Private Norman Ferguson (27 years old)
B Company, 37th Battalion
12/10/1917 killed in action, Passchendaele Ridge
buried in: Poelcapelle British Cemetery - (died 28 years old)
(Plot XXXIII, Row E, Grave No. 12), Belgium
Brother 1021 Private Hugh Valentine Ferguson (24 years old)
24th Battalion
10/5/1915 embarked (with George) on board HMAT A14 Euripides
19/11/1915 killed in action, Dardanelles, Gallipoli
no known grave
his name is commemorated on the Lone Pine Memorial, Turkey
Brother 2317 Private Thomas Louden Ferguson (22 years old)
D Company, 37th Battalion
9/4/1918 killed in action, Somme
buried in: Mericourt L'Abbe Communal Cemetery Extension - (died 25 years old)
(Plot II, Row F, Grave No. 11), France
19/4/1918 a cable was sent to George stating that the AIF had previously emailed him a cable on
4/4/1918 noting his brother Norman had been killed and apologising that he had not seen it. The
cable also stated that his other brother T L Ferguson had witnessed Norman's death, being that they
were in the same Battalion.
On the same cable from 19/4/1918, the AIF advised George it was with deep regret that he was
now informed that they had received a reply from his brother T L Ferguson stating:
"I am sorry to say that which you heard about me seeing Norman killed is unture, I can't find trace
of him anywhere."
Then the AIF advised George that Reverend Alfred E Collen, Chaplain of the 37th Battalion, had
found the note with the other effects of Private T L Ferguson, he had been killed in action on 9/4/1918.
George was described on enlisted as 19 years 7 months old; single; 5' 7" tall; 130 lbs;
clear complexion; hazel eyes; light brown hair; Presbyterian.
11/3/1915 Enlisted at Wangaratta, Victoria (service #1095)
(with a written consent from his mother - as father had died in Dec. 1914)
9/3/1915 reported at Sturt Street Depot
12/4/1915 Commanding Officer appointed George to A Company, 23rd Battalion, 6th Brigade
Broadmeadows Camp
8/5/1915 Embarked from Port Melbourne on board HMAT Euripides A14 (with Brother Hugh)
(service #1027)
as a Private in 6th Infantry Brigade, 24th Infantry Battalion, A Company
12/6/1915 disembarked into Alexandria
18/8/1915 transferred to 24th Battalion
30/8/1915 proceeded to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Forces (MEF) in Gallipoli
He served at Gallipoli and on the Western Front. Private George Ferguson was one of four brothers
who enlisted between March 1915 and June 1916.
20/9/1915 sick with Enteric Fever
Embarked on board HS Guildford Castle
25/9/1915 admitted Influenza - No.21 General Hospital, Alexandria
1/11/1915 Embarked on board HS Saltu to England
24/3/1916 proceeded to join British Expeditionary Froces (BEF) in France, ex Weymouth, England
24/4/1916 Taken on strength from 2nd Australian Division Base Depot, Etaples, France
18/5/1916 sick Influenza, admitted to No.14 General Hospital
20/5/1916 evacuated out to Division Area, France
22/5/1916 embarked on board HS Cambria at Boulogne, France, for England
23/5/1916 admitted to Edinburgh War Hosptial, England
4/7/1916 transfered from Harefield to Military Convalescent Hospital, Epsom
15/8/1916 taken on strength at No.1 Convalescent Depot, at Perham Downs
2/9/1916 marched out to 6th Training Battalion (taken on strength)
22/9/1916 proceeding overseas to France, ex England
2/10/1916 rejoined 24th Battalion in Belgium
5/2/1917 sick - Influenza - to hospital, France
12/2/1917 transferred to ambulance train, France
26/2/1917 sick to hospital, Etaples, France
28/2/1917 embarked for England, ex Calais, France
admitted to 3rd Australian General Hospital (AGH), Brighton, England
31/3/1917 marched into No.2 Convalescent Depot, Weymouth, from Admin Headquarters, London
20/6/1917 proceeded overseas to France, ex Perham Downs, for overseas training depot
9/7/1917 rejoined 24th Battalion in France
5/10/1917 sick to hospital in the field, France
16/10/1917 Cellulitis in the left arm - admitted to hospital train to England, ex Rouen, France
31/12/1917 discharged to furlo
23/1/1918 marched out to overseas training brigade, France
9/4/1918 proceeded overseas to France, ex overseas Training Brigade, Sandhill Camp,
Longbridge
16/5/1918 proceeding to England, for return to Australia (compassionate discharge)
27/5/1918 marched in to No.2 Command Depot, Weymouth, from Admin Headquarters London,
ex furlo
George cabled the AIF, advising them that his father had died in 1914, he had now lost 3 brothers
in the war, he had also been advised one of his brothers in Australia had died and that he now was
the eldest brother, and had requested for a return to Australia, to work on home duties and to be
able to car for his mother, two sisters, younger brother, two sister-in-laws and two children.
He was granted a discharge, on compassionate grounds.
6/6/1918 Returned to Australia on board D11
14/8/1918 discharged from service in AIF
Medals:
1914/15 Star (21475); British War medal (11251) and Victory medal (11163)
1967 George applied for his Gallipoli Medallion
8/8/1931 married Mary Earl Seymour (b. 8/6/1892 Adelaide SA - d. 1976 Wangaratta, VIC)
Daugther Janet Mary Ferguson (b. 22/7/1932 Ariah Park NSW - d. 21/12/1983 Coburg VIC)
1989 George passed away
buried in: Milawa Cemetery, Milawa, Victoria
(with his wife Mary Earl Ferguson)
Sourced and submitted by Julianne T Ryan. 5/5/2015. Lest we forget.
Click images to start slideshow.