John Ferguson

John Ferguson was the son of Helen Ferguson (née Buchanan). Helen, who was born in Scotland, had at least four children: Alison b. Glasgow 7 October 1887, Annie b. Glasgow 29 March 1889, John b. Wigan 1891 and Harriet Mary b. Nottingham birth registered 1895 (J/F/M). Helen (35), a shirt maker, was living at 6 Creswell Street, Nottingham, in 1901 with her four children Alison, Annie, John and Harriet. Helen died at Ronald Street, Radford, on 16 January 1909. By 1911 Alison, a hosiery hand, was living at 27 Laurel Street, Nottingham, a boarder in the household of Walter and Margaret Clark (32), a lace frilling hand. Annie, a box maker, and her sister Harriet, who was working in a wool mill, were boarders in the home of Ernest and Eliza Rigley and their family at 28 Auckland Street, Radford. John has not yet been traced on the 1911 Census. The youngest sister, Harriet Mary, married Clarence Clarke at Old Radford St Peter on 16 February 1916. They lived at 12 Players Street, Nottingham; Clarence was a window cleaner. He attested in 1916 and was mobilised on 6 March 1916 serving in France from 16 July 1916 with the Oxford & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (32544 Private). He suffered gunshot wounds to his left arm on 9 April 1917 and then served in the UK from 21 April until his discharge from the army, physically unfit for further war service, shortly before the Armistice. He and his wife have not yet been traced after this date. In 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled, Alison, a silk forewoman, and her sister Annie, a box maker, were living at 27 Laurel Street with Margaret Clark, a canteen worker. Alison died in 1974 and her sister Annie the following year.

Radford Nottingham. Enlisted Nottingham

Served with the 7th battalion South Staffordshire Regiment. John was killed in action on 28th September 1916. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France.

Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 18 January 1909: ‘Ferguson. On the 16th inst., at Ronald-street, Radford, Mrs Helen Ferguson. Interment General Cemetery, Wednesday, 1.30pm.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 28 October 1916: ‘Ferguson. Killed in action, September 28th, 1916, Private John Ferguson, South Staffords, aged 24, only son of the late Helen Ferguson. For his country’s sake. From his sorrowing sisters, Elsie [Alison], Annie, and Mary [Harriet Mary], and brother-in-law Clarence [Clark] (in France).’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 26 September 1918: ‘Ferguson. In loving memory of Pte Jack Ferguson, killed in action, September 28th, 1916. Sorrowing sisters and brother [brother-in-law].’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)