| James Ferguson was the youngest son of John and Margaret Ferguson. John Ferguson and Margaret Brown were married on 23rd August 1878 in the district of Cookstown.
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| James Ferguson was born in Ardtrea, County Londonderry on 12th March 1897. He was the youngest of at least six children.
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| Known family: John Ferguson, Margaret Ferguson, Annie Ferguson (born 2nd November 1881), Sarah Ferguson (born 13th January 1884), Margaret Ferguson (born 22nd May 1887), Mary Ferguson (born 22nd April 1890), Alexander Ferguson (born 2nd November 1892), James Ferguson (born 12th March 1897).
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| The 1901 census lists James as age 4 living with the family at house 7 in Ballyronan More, Ballyronan, Londonderry. John Ferguson was a land steward.
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| It is believed James’ mother died in Magherafelt on 25th September 1909, aged 56. James would have been twelve years old.
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| The 1911 census lists James as age 14 living with the family at house 19 in Ballyronan More, Ballyronan, Londonderry. His mother had died. James had left school and was working on his father’s farm.
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| James enlisted in Newtownards, County Down sometime during 1915.
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| Private James Ferguson had been involved in a number of engagements of the First World War.
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| Private James Ferguson was serving with the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers when he was killed in action on Sunday 29th September 1918.
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| The battalion had marched to fresh billets, skirting Courtrai to St. Anne, where they were accommodated in and around a convent. Twenty men from the battalion were killed on this day. Private James Ferguson was 21 years old.
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| From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 31st October 1918:
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| FERGUSON – Killed in action in France on 29th September, Private James Ferguson, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, son of Mr John Ferguson, Ballyronan?
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| From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 31st October 1918:
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| Mr John Ferguson, of Ballyronan, has received, through the War Office, the sad news of the death of his son Private James Ferguson, killed in action in France on the 29th September. This brave young hero joined the Royal Inniskillings when but a lad in the end of September 1915. After a short training at home, he was sent to France in 1916 to join his Ulster comrades in the never to be forgotten Battle of the Somme. He was with his regiment continually since then, passing through some of the fiercest encounters of the war without receiving a wound. Quite recently he was home on leave, full of health and vigour, and looking to a near termination of this war. He has been denied the glory of sharing in the final victory. Shortly after his return he gave his life for his country, and lies now amongst our honoured dead in France. We desire to extend our sympathy to the friends and relatives.
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| From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 9th November 1918: Thanks
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| Mr John Ferguson desires to thank the many kind friends who sympathised with him in his recent sad bereavement and to those who sent letters of condolence, when his son, Private James Ferguson, was killed in action. Hoping this will be accepted by all. The Hermitage, Ballyronan.
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| James Ferguson is buried in plot 3- row E grave 13 at Dadizeele New British Cemetery, Belgium.
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| Private James Ferguson is buried in Dadizeele New British Cemetery, Belgium.
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| Dadizeele (now Dadizele) village was in German controlled territory for much of the First World War until it was reached by the 36th Ulster Division, and taken by the 9th Scottish Division on 29th September 1918.
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| When the cemeteries were being put in place the families at home were asked if they wanted a personal inscription on the headstone. James’s family chose “Safe in the arms of Jesus”.
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| The CWGC record James Ferguson as the son of John Ferguson of The Hermitage, Ballyronan, County Derry.
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