Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland

Died on this date – 18th August……Douglas Abbott Ferguson was born at South Brisbane, Queensland in 1889. He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 20th August, 1915 as a 26 year old, single, Engineer from Abbotsford, Enoggera, Brisbane, Queensland.

Gunner Douglas Abbott Ferguson embarked from Sydney, NSW on HMAT Persic (A34) on 18th November, 1915 with the 5th Field Artillery Brigade, 13th Battery. He disembarked at Suez on 21st December, 1915 & proceeded to join M.E.F. (Mediterranean Expeditionary Force). Gunner Douglas Abbott Ferguson’s younger brother – Bombardier Malcolm Abbott Ferguson also embarked the same day on HMAT Persic (A34).

Gunner Douglas Abbott Ferguson proceeded from Alexandria on 18th March, 1916 to join B.E.F. (British Expeditionary Force) & disembarked at Marseilles, France on 25th March, 1916.

Gunner Douglas Abbott Ferguson was transferred to Australian Flying Corps on 8th July, 1917 from 5th Field Artillery Brigade. He was marched in from France ex Administrative Headquarters to Australian Flying Corps Details at Farnborough, England on 4th August, 1917.

Gunner Douglas Abbott Ferguson was taken on strength of Australian Flying Corps (A.F.C.) Details on 27th August, 1917 with the rank of 2nd Air Mechanic – 2/AM.

2/AM Douglas Abbott Ferguson joined No. 2 R.F.C. (Royal Flying Corps) School of Military Aeronautics at Oxford, England on 4th January, 1918 to qualify as Flying Officer (Pilot) & was appointed Cadet.

2/AM Douglas Abbott Ferguson was marched out to No. 8 Training Squadron on 4th May, 1918 from A.F.C. Depot. He was taken on strength of 8th Training Squadron at Leighterton on 5th May, 1918.
2/AM Douglas Abbott Ferguson having graduated as Cadet was appointed Flying Officer (Pilot) on 7th July, 1918 & was to be Second Lieutenant in the Australian Imperial Force.

On 18th August, 1918 at approximately 18.00 hours Second Lieutenant Douglas Abbott Ferguson was piloting a Sopwith Camel C6746 which collided head on with Lieutenant Harry Taylor, MC, MM, who was piloting a Sopwith Scout D4170 while conducting dogfight training at Shipton Moyne, Gloucestershire, out of No. 8 Training Squadron, Australian Flying Corps, Leighterton.

Second Lieutenant Douglas Abbott Ferguson died on 18th August, 1918 at Leighterton as a result of an aeroplane accident. The Report of Accident to a Flying Officer recorded that 2nd Lieutenant D. A. Ferguson, of A.F.C. was attached to 8 TS (Training Squadron) was piloting a Sopwith Camel on 18th August, 1918 in the locality of Shipton Moyne. The aircraft was involved in an aerial collision but did not catch fire. Second Lieutenant Ferguson had flown for 63 hours & 5 minutes & was wearing an ordinary Helmet with goggles & R.A.F. belt which gave way. He had a fractured skull, left leg, abdominal & thoracic (probably ribs fractured) injuries. His condition after the accident was “unconscious almost dead” & he died of a fractured skull.

[Lieutenant Harry Taylor, aged 30, died as a result of the aero accident & was buried in Lodge Hill Cemetery, Birmingham, England.]

Second Lieutenant Douglas Abbott Ferguson was buried at 1.30 pm on 22nd August, 1918 in Brookwood Military Cemetery, Surrey, England – Australian Military Burial Ground.

(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/f---g.html

[His younger brother - Sergeant Malcolm Abbott Ferguson, who embarked from Sydney, NSW at same time – returned to Australia on 21st December, 1918.
Two older brothers also served -
Gunner Norman Abbott Ferguson - Returned to Australia 24th July, 1919.

Lieutenant Hector James Abbott Ferguson was Killed in action 21st October, 1917. Buried Reninghelst New Cemetery, Reninghelst, Flanders, Belgium. He was awarded the Military Cross & Bar.

Son of James I and Jean Abbott FERGUSON