Friends of the Somme - Mid Ulster Branch  
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Date Information
30/05/2024
30/05/2024 From the Toronto Telegram dated November 1944: Missing Toronto Man Now Reported Killed
30/05/2024 Corporal R J Ferguson, previously reported missing on 10th August, is now officially reported killed in France on that date. The eldest son of Mrs Margaret Ferguson of 457 Ashdale Avenue, and the late Robert Ferguson, he was born in Londonderry Northern Ireland and came to Canada at the age of six years. He attended Bruce Public School and Roden Commercial School. Prior to his enlistment in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in March 1942, he was employed by the Dunlop Rubber Company. He went overseas in September 1942. Two other brothers are serving, William with the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and David with the Infantry Reinforcement Unit. Corporal Ferguson was a member of Rhodes Avenue United Church and Cameron L.O.L. No 613.
30/08/2020 At the time of his death, his mother was living at 457 Ashdale Avenue, Toronto.
30/08/2020
30/08/2020 Robert James Ferguson was the son of Robert and Margaret Ferguson.
30/08/2020 Robert was born on 1st May 1922 in Donemana, near Strabane. Robert was the oldest of six children, four boys and two girls.
30/08/2020 His father was a creamery manager.
30/08/2020 Robert was brought up in Killycurragh, outside Cookstown, by his aunts and uncles until the family emigrated to Canada in 1928 when he was six years old.
30/08/2020 Robert was educated at Bruce Public School and then at Roden Commercial School.
30/08/2020 Bertie, as he came known, was a member of the United Church of Canada and of Cameron L.O.L. No 613 of Toronto.
30/08/2020 His father died in 1937.
30/08/2020 Prior to enlistment, Bertie Ferguson was employed with the Dunlop Rubber Company in Canada.
30/08/2020 After enlisting, Robert James Ferguson proceeded overseas in September 1942. He spent two years training in England.
30/08/2020 Lance Corporal Ferguson spent his final leave visiting his aunt and two uncles at Killycurragh, Cookstown.
30/08/2020
30/08/2020 It was some weeks before his death was confirmed.
30/08/2020 Two of Robert’s brothers, William and Victor, also served during World War Two.
30/08/2020 Lance Corporal Robert James Ferguson is buried in Bretteville-Sur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery near Caen in France. His inscription reads: IN LOVING MEMORY OF MY DEAR SON "BERT" HIS DUTY WELL DONE. MOTHER
30/08/2020 The CWGC record Lance Corporal Robert James Ferguson as the son of Robert Ferguson, and of Margaret Ferguson, of Toronto, Ontario.
30/08/2020 From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 17th February 1945: Corporal R J Ferguson Reported Killed
30/08/2020
30/08/2020 Toronto papers to hand report that Corporal R J Ferguson, who was reported missing on 10th August, is now reported officially as killed on that date. He was the eldest son of Mrs Margaret Ferguson and the late Robert Ferguson and grandson of the late Robert Ferguson, of Killycurragh. He was born in Donemana, where his late father was creamery manager, but was brought up in Killycurragh until the family emigrated to Canada. He was then only six years of age. Educated at Bruce Public School and Roden Commercial School, he was employed by the Dunlop Rubber Company prior to enlistment in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and went overseas in September 1942. After two years training in England, he spent his leave visiting his aunt, Mrs Ferguson, and two uncles, who are residing on the old homestead. Another uncle is in Killyman Creamery and a fourth lives at Dunmore. This gallant young soldier was a member of the United Church of Canada and of Cameron L.O.L. No. 303 of Toronto.
30/08/2020 From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 28th October 1944: Reported Missing
30/08/2020
30/08/2020 FERGUSON – Missing since 16th August, Private Bertie Ferguson, Canadian Forces, eldest son of the late Bob Ferguson and of Mrs Ferguson, of 457 Ashdale Avenue, Toronto, Canada, and grandson of the late Robert Ferguson, of Killycurragh, Cookstown.
30/08/2020 Lance Corporal Robert James Ferguson was serving with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada (Princess Louise's), R.C.I.C., when he was killed on 10th August 1944.
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