FERGUSSON William Arnold

William Arnold Fergusson was born on 22nd September 1886. He entered Form 2 Kings School in September 1897 and became a Kings scholar in 1900. At the time of his admission to the school his parent is recorded as Dr Fergusson, Painswick, Stroud. William was previously educated by Miss Thomas, Stroud. He left Kings School from Form V in July 1904. Remarks: L.C. 1904. Farming killed *** Sig Ca* C**

School records courtesy of Kings School Archives.

William Arnold Fergusson enlisted as a Private in the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force on 23rd September 1914 at Valcartier, Quebec, Canada. On his attestation form he gave his date of birth as 22nd September 1886 in Newtown, Montgomeryshire, Wales, his occupation as a farmer and his next of kin as his father, William B. Fergusson, Morland Road, Croydon. William stated he served one year in military training with the 104th Regiment (Westminster Fusiliers of Canada). He was 6ft 1½ins tall with grey eyes, brown hair and a fair complexion. William was promoted to Corporal at Valcartier on 25th September 1914 before sailing from Canada with his unit on 3rd October 1914. On 15th February he was admitted to hospital with pleurisy, returning to his unit on 5th March 1915. He was promoted to Acting Sergeant on 1st April 1915 and just 4 days later on 5th April 1915 he was admitted to No 4 Ambulance Train in France with tonsillitis followed by admission to No 4 General Hospital, Versailles on 10th April. He was discharged to the Base at Rouen on 15th April and promoted to Sergeant on 26th April. William was killed in action on 24th May 1915.

National Archives of Canada Reference: RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 3055 – 33

The Canada War Graves Registers (Circumstances of Casualty) records the following information on Sergeant William Fergusson: “Killed in Action” Location of unit at time of casualty: Attack near Festubert.

The Canada Commonwealth War Graves Registers record the following information on Sergeant William Fergusson: Killed in Action. No record of Burial. Vimy Memorial.

Arnold Fergusson was the third son of Dr. Fergusson, of Painswick, Stroud. He entered the Lower School in 1897, and left in the Fifth with the Lower Certificate in 1904. He was one of the first members of Castle House, and before leaving he represented the School in Cricket, Football, and on the River. After leaving he trained in practical farming and then went to Canada. On the outbreak of war he joined the 7th Battalion of the first Canadian contingent, and went through the severe fighting at Ypres. He was made Sergeant, and was, at the time of his death, acting as an officer and doing splendidly, and most popular with his fellows. He was killed instantaneously on May 25th. Active and popular at School he was of the best type of English Colonists. Both Canada and the Motherland are poorer by his loss.
W. H. C.

We are permitted to publish the following extract from a letter to the Headmaster:-
“Arnold Fergusson was killed last Monday morning in the fighting round Festubert. He had been doing awfully well, he was promoted Sergeant after Ypres, where he distinguished himself. Then again here in this awful attack on a very strong redoubt, all the officers had been killed, but he led his platoon splendidly, captured a length of trench, and was holding it when he got shot. I met today a man who saw him shot. This man had gone out to bind up a wounded man, when a sniper began to fire at him, so he rolled into a hole made by a shell, and was quite safe. Then Fergusson saw this poor fellow and went out to help him. This man shouted at him, but either he did not hear or took no notice, and he had just begun to dress the man’s wounds when the sniper shot him in the head and he was killed instantaneously. Everyone in his company seems to have been very fond of him, and the officers spoke very highly of him.”

Source for additional information: The Vigornian, June 1915, No.83, Vol.VIII

William Arnold Fergusson has no known grave, the photograph available shows his name on Vimy Memorial.