Peter FERGUSON

Regimental number3061
Place of birthGlasgow, Scotland
SchoolHillhead High School and Queen's Park School, Scotland
Age on arrival in Australia29
ReligionPresbyterian
OccupationDraper
AddressLinlethen, Great North Road, Abbotsford, New South Wales
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation32
Height5' 6"
Weight121 lbs
Next of kinMother, Mrs E M Ferguson, 3 Lawrence Place, Dowanhill, Glasgow, Scotland
Previous military serviceNil
Enlistment date31 August 1915
Place of enlistmentSydney, New South Wales
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name17th Battalion, 7th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/34/2
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A29 Suevic on 20 December 1915
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll55th Battalion
FateKilled in Action 20 July 1916
Place of death or woundingFromelles, France
Age at death32
Place of burialNo known grave
Commemoration detailsV.C. Corner (Panel No 13), Australian Cemetery Memorial, Fromelles, France
Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
160
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Parents: Peter and Elizabeth Mitchell FERGUSON, 3 Lawrence Place, Dowanhill, Glasgow, Scotland
Other details

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Allotted to, and proceeded to 55th Bn from 5th Training Bn, Zeitoun, 16 February 1916; taken on strength of 55th Bn, Tel el Kebir, 16 February 1916.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 19 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 29 June 1916.

Posted missing, 20 July 1916.

Court of Enquiry, held in the field, 26 July 1917, pronounced fate as 'Killed in Action, 20 July 1916'.

Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal

Statement, Red Cross File No 1050602, 3020 Pte H.B. BALDWIN, 55th Bn, 5 January 1917: 'From enquiries made he was last seen in the German trenches, which we were holding at the time. He was severely wounded by a bomb in the small of his back and it was doubtful whether he would recover, and having to evacuate the trenches suddenly, he could not be brought back. He was not reported in any list we received from Germany, either as a prisoner or as killed.'

Second statement, 3211 Pte F.H. BIRD, 55th Bn (patient, No 8 Stationary Hospital, Boulogne), 21 May 1917: 'On the 20th July at Fromelles, he was in a bombing party durig an attack. I was also in the party. It was just daylight. We got to the German lines and a bomb dropped behind Ferguson who was very badly wounded. We took him along the trench to try and find stretcher bearers. We were ordered to leave him and to carry on. Later on we evacuated that part of the line and so far as I know Ferguson was not heard of again.'

Note on file: 'No trace Germany. Cert. by Capt. Mills 10.10.19.'
SourcesNAA: B2455, FERGUSON Peter
Red Cross File No 1050602