East Surrey Regt., eldest _s._ of Frederick Featherstone, of Mount
Pleasant, Plough Lane, Purley, member of London Stock Exchange, by his
wife, Minnie Elizabeth, dau. of Thomas W. Dean; _b._ Lewisham, 13
Feb. 1897; educ. Holmwood, Bexhill-on-Sea (1906–1910), where in 1907
he joined the School Cadet Corps, which was affiliated with the 2nd
Home Counties Royal Engineers (T.F.). In 1911 he went to Dover College,
where he won prizes in English, Latin, and other subjects, and joined
the O.T.C., in which he had reached the rank of Sergt., when gazetted
2nd Lieut. to the 3rd (Special Reserve) Battn. of the East Surreys, 16
Dec. 1914. Joining his regt in Jan. he left for France on 20 March,
1915, was attached for a while to C Coy. 1st Battn. Dorsetshire Regt.,
and later transferred for duty to the 2nd Battn. East Surrey Regt.,
being confirmed in his rank as 2nd Lieut. 9 April, 1915. He was killed
in action, being shot through the heart while bravely leading his men
in the repulse of the German attack on the British trenches near Ypres,
25 April, 1915. He was buried in the Officer’s Graveyard, 1½ miles
east of Zonnebeke; unm. Sergt. Buckingham, of the East Surreys, gave
the following graphic account of the incidents from 17 to 27 April:
“Our headquarters were at Zonnebeke, near Ypres. About 3 p.m. on the
17th an order was given to pack up and move. There was some heavy
shelling at the time, and it took about one hour to get everything on
to the transport. We were then given another 150 rounds ammunition
to carry and about 4.30 the order to move was given. We took a road
to the left of Ypres. Our company officer, Capt. Fuller, was sick, so
he was not with us, but Lieut. Rottman took charge. We had only three
officers--Lieuts. Rottman, Featherstone and Ward--and we reached our
destination, about a mile from Langemark, about 7 p.m. We were then
under heavy shell fire. A, B and C Companies were put into position
and we were to be the supports. We were in position all that night,
but nothing happened. As it was getting daylight we retired a bit
further back--this was the 18th--but had to stand to nearly all day as
there was heavy rifle fire and shells. About 5 p.m. we pushed forward,
going through the Canadians and some French infantry who had been
pushed back, and we had to retake their trenches, which we did without
much trouble. The French were made secure and got their trenches,
and we took the Canadian’s and had orders to stop in them. We worked
all night repairing the breastworks with sandbags, the officers and
sergts. relieving one another for a rest. At dawn on the 19th the enemy
started with their trench mortars, which were dropping just in rear
of our trenches. We were expecting a big shelling then, but they must
have been laying their guns or had brought more up for we were only
getting a shell here and there and were pretty quiet and remained so
until the afternoon of the 20th. From the 17th to the 20th we had no
casualties amongst the officers and not many men. On the afternoon of
the 20th the bombardment started, but they did not have a good range
that day. At night the Middlesex brought our rations up and a working
party, who made us a bit stronger. They left us about 3 a.m. on the
21st. Toward dawn we were bombarded again, this time a little closer.
As it got lighter we saw about half a dozen German aeroplanes coming
towards our trenches, they flew up and down dropping smoke bombs, and
the shells were dropping all round us, so we had to lay close up to the
parapets. Here we stayed all day, this night--21st, or rather early
22nd--no rations could be brought to us and no working party, so we
dug ourselves right in as messages came that we were to hold on at all
cost. We still had all our officers. As day dawned it was a bit quiet.
That night we had our rations and hot soup brought up and were told
we were going to be relieved the next night, 23rd. On the morning of
the 23rd it was still quiet, but about 3 p.m. they started something
terrible, only taking our regiment. They were then using gas shells
and breaking our parapets and shelling the roads. Again a message came
to hold on and that we would not be relieved, we then lost a few men.
This lasted all day. On the early morning of the 24th Lieut. Fardell
was killed, and gas was used all day. Lieut. Featherstone got some
handkerchiefs and soaked them with water and handed them around and
we lost about 40 men that day. As night came on, I think it was about
2 a.m. on the 25th. Mr. Featherstone, who was then taking his rest,
came, and he looked very upset, and said to me: ‘Poor Mr. Rottman is
killed.’ I said: ‘I am very sorry to hear that,’ and went and had a
look at him. I came back and he was still standing, and I and Sergt.
Lower said: ‘Why don’t you go and finish your rest, we will come and
let you know if anything is wrong.’ So he went, but he did not stop
long as it was getting on time to stand to arms, so we stood, and when
it was light they sent shells in front of our trench and smashed the
barbed wire, therefore we knew that they were going to attack, and
while we were getting ready a shell struck the parapet, and me and Mr.
Featherstone had the sandbags over us. We got out of that and laughed
at one another. As it went on the parapets were being blown to bits, so
an order came to get the men to the right and at some parts we had to
crawl. Sergt. Lower led the way and Mr. Featherstone and I saw every
man safe. It was while we were crawling past a gap in the parapet a
piece of shell struck me, I did not stop, but he saw I was hit and
said: ‘Are you all right? I said: ‘Yes, come on.’ We got past the gap
and he said: ‘Where are you hit?’ I thought it was my arm and dropped
my rifle. He picked it up and said: ‘We must get out of this,’ and
we went on a bit and found we were in the Northumberlands and stayed
there, and then the enemy were in our trenches. I had had my shoulder
dressed and the order to spread out came. I then saw Mr Featherstone
had lost his hat and getting close up to him I said, ‘the supports are
driving them out so they were all shouting hurrah.’ Mr. Featherstone
was then firing out of my rifle and I gave him another clip. I then
saw him go up a little way further and fall. He was struck by a bullet
and we sent for the stretcher bearers. He was then dead.” The Adjutant
of his Battn. wrote to his father: “Like all our young officers he
carried out his duty to the end and by his example the men remained
steadfast and the trenches were held in spite of poisonous gases and
rifle and shell fire. We have been so fortunate in having such good
officers that the battn. has earned special praise from all, and
General French thanked us yesterday for the work of 25 April, during
which your son fell”; and a subaltern: “2nd Lieut. Featherstone was
killed during the German attack on 25 April under circumstances which
proved him a very brave officer. The enemy having got all round us our
men were firing in all directions, generally at no particular object
as often happens in times of excitement. It was in trying to stop the
men wasting their munitions that Lieut. Featherstone was twice wounded.
He still continued, however, to calm his men till he was shot in the
heart by a stray bullet.” While at Holmwood School, Lieut. Featherstone
was a sapper and shot in the School XI, winning the Sheffield Trophy
on outdoor competition, at 200 and 500 yards with the service rifle;
he also shot in the team for the Holman Cup, an indoor competition at
20 yards. At Dover College he was in the 1st Football XI, as well as
playing cricket; and shot for his school at Bisley in 1913 in the Cadet
pairs, likewise in the Team of the Ashburton Shield in 1914. Lieut.
Featherstone was promoted Lieut. subsequent to his death.
[Illustration: =Cecil F. Featherstone.=]
=FEE, SAMUEL=, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., B. 7543), S.S. 102801,
H.M.S. Hawke; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15
Oct. 1914; _m._
=FEE, SAMUEL=, Corpl., No. 12808, 10th (Service) Battn. Highland
L.I., 3rd _s._ of Robert Fee, of 33, Muslin Street, Bridgeton,
Glasgow, Slater’s Labourer, by his wife, Lily, dau. of (--) Arnell;
_b._ Bridgeton, Glasgow, 19 June, 1892; educ. Hozier Street Public
School there; was a Miner, Old Farm Colliery, Rutherglen; enlisted 17
Aug. 1914; went to France in May, 1915, and was killed in front of the
parapet during the advance at Loos, 25 Sept. 1915; _unm._ The Coy.
Sergt.-Major wrote that “he was a good soldier and N.C.O.”
=FEE, WILLIAM JOHN=, Bugler. R.M.A., 11537, H.M.S. Hogue; lost in
action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=FEENEY, THOMAS=, Leading Signaller, 220726, H.M.S. Hogue; lost in
action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=FEGAN, WILLIAM PATRICK=, Sergt., No. 26519, 14th Battn. (Royal
Montreal), Canadian Expeditionary Force, yst. _s._ of Francis
Fegan, of Waggarandall, near Melbourne, Australia, Landowner, by his
wife, Mary, dau. of (--) Homer; _b._ Major Plains, Melbourne, 29
Jan. 1877, and was educ. at Dookie College, near Melbourne. He was
surveying in South Africa when the Boer War began; he immediately
joined the Victorians, and served through that campaign, 1899–1902,
being wounded twice and receiving the Queen’s and King’s medals. He
then became an expert for the International Co., of Buenos Ayres, and
went round the world eight times for them, and after some seven years
at Buenos Ayres went to Canada where he was in Aug. 1914, when the
European War was declared. He at once volunteered; enlisted in the
Canadian Expeditionary Force; came over with the first contingent in
Oct. 1914; went to France Feb. 1915, and was killed in action near
Wulverghem, 27 Nov. 1915. His company officer, Capt. Whitehead, wrote:
“Your husband was one of the finest men I ever met, and one of my most
reliable N.C.O.’s, and his loss will be felt very heavily: he was
killed almost instantly, the bullet entering the base of the neck, and
passing through the body”; and Lieut. Gordon Leighton: “I can bear a
few words of testimony of his courage and worth, having been associated
with him since his arrival in France. He was a brave and soldierly man.
He had been through some very trying times with us, but never lost his
coolness and courage in the face of the gravest danger and difficult
situations. Moreover he had voluntarily undertaken work he knew was of
a dangerous character. I personally, and I think all the officers of
the company, regret exceedingly the loss of Sergt. Fegan, as we feel
we have lost a man who was far above the average and whose soldierly
worth was invaluable.” He _m._ at St. Brigid’s Roman Catholic
Church, Fitzroy, Melbourne, 10 June, 1911, Kathleen, sister of Private
Arthur Moore, 5th Battn. Australian Imperial Force, who died of wounds
received in action at the Dardanelles, 29 Feb. 1916 (see his notice),
and dau. of Henry Albert Moore, of Park House, Whatley, near Frome,
Somerset, and had two children: William Ernest Patrick, _b._ 10
Jan. 1913; and Kathleen Joan Florence, _b._ 5 Oct. 1915.
[Illustration: =William Patrick Fegan.=]
=FEILDEN, GRANVILLE JOHN HENRY=, 2nd Lieut., 2nd Battn. Seaforth
Highlanders, only _s._ of Major Granville Cholmondeley Feilden,
D.S.O., late Seaforth Highlanders, now commanding the London Division
of the Corps of Commissionaires (who served through the South African
War, wounded at Paardeberg, 18 Feb. 1900, Queen’s medal three clasps,
King’s medal two clasps), and his wife, Edith Margaret, 2nd dau. of the
late Sir Henry Cockburn MacAndrew, of Aisthorpe, Inverness; _b._
Drummuie House, Golspie, co. Sutherland, 27 Aug. 1895; educ. the New
Beacon, Sevenoaks, Wellington College (“Blucher”), and Sandhurst (Prize
Cadet) and on passing out from the last was gazetted 2nd Lieut. to the
2nd Seaforth Highlanders, 12 Aug. 1914, and was ordered to join the 3rd
Battn. at Cromarty on the 25 Aug. On 12 Sept. he went to France with a
draft joining the 2nd Battn. on the Aisne. He moved from there with the
4th Division in the middle of Oct. to the Belgian frontier, and took
part in the severe fighting around Frehlingham and Messines during the
end of October and beginning of November, and spent five months with
his regt. in the trenches near Messines. He came home on a week’s leave
in Feb., returning to his regt. on the 10th of that month, and was
killed in action on Sunday, 25 April, 1915, during the attack on St.
Julien, in the second Battle of Ypres. His C.O. wrote: “You know how
your son was loved by us all, he was so brave, so gallant, so cheery,
and beloved by his men.... On the morning of 25 April I reached the
right of the line about 9 a.m., and was close to your son when he was
killed.... We have lost many gallant officers, but none more gallant
than your son”; and the second in Command: “We advanced at dawn on
Sunday, 25 April. The old Corps were as steady as ever.... our losses
were very severe. Your son was killed instantaneously while doing his
duty most well and gallantly.... We were all so fond of him, he was an
absolutely first-class officer with any amount of initiative and ‘go’.”
A fellow subaltern also wrote: “I was with John most of the night of
the 24th and 25th, and he was very cheery then and full of spirits. I
did not see him in the actual attack until we were about 40 yards from
the German trenches, when he helped me to straighten out the company
behind a defensive position. I was hit then, so did not see him again.”
He was buried at Burnt Farm on the left of the St. Jean-St. Julien
Road, with four of his brother officers, including the Capt. of his
company.
[Illustration: =Granville J. H. Feilden.=]
=FELLOWES. ARTHUR ROSS=, Private, No. 6/226, 12th Nelson Regt.,
Canterbury Battn., New Zealand Expeditionary Force, _s._ of Robert
Ross Fellowes, of Stoke, Nelson, New Zealand; _b._ Takaku, Nelson,
14 Sept. 18..; educ. at Wakefield, Nelson; volunteered on the outbreak
of war, leaving home to join up 12 Aug. 1914; left for Egypt with the
Main Force in Oct., took part in the repulse of the Turkish attack on
the Suez Canal in Feb. 1915, and in the landing at the Dardanelles, 25
April, and was killed in action near Gabe Tepe, between 25 April and 1
May, 1915, being shot by a sniper; _unm._ As a school cadet and in
Egypt he proved himself a remarkably good shot, winning several prizes.
He was the first Wakefield man to fall in action.
=FELLOWES, WILLIAM JOHN=, Sick Berth Steward, 350884, H.M.S.
Hawke; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15 Oct.
1914; _m._
=FELTHAM, ARTHUR=, Signalman, J. 14117, H.M.S. Pathfinder; lost
when that ship was sunk by a mine, about 20 miles off the East Coast, 5
Sept. 1914.
=FENDLEY, JOHN ROBERT=, Leading Stoker (R.F.R., B. 5634), 284849,
H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=FENERAN, FRANK EDWARD=, Capt., 1st Battn. King’s Liverpool
Regt., 2nd _s._ of the late Lieut.-Col. Edward Feneran, 1st
Northamptonshire Regt, (who served in the Crimea), by his wife,
Caroline Elizabeth, dau. of the late Charles Herring-Cooper, and gdson.
of Col. Francis Feneran, Derbyshire Regt. (who served at Waterloo);
_b._ Kensington, 23 April, 1881; educ. privately and at the Royal
Military College, Sandhurst; gazetted to the King’s Liverpool Regt.,
12 Aug. 1899, and was promoted Lieut. 21 July, 1900, and Capt. 18
Sept. 1909. From April 1904 to April 1907, he was Ordnance Officer
(4th class) and in 1911 was appointed Adjutant to the Special Reserve.
He passed the school of signalling and in 1914 the examination for
the Staff College. On the outbreak of the European War, he went to
France with his regiment, Aug. 1914, and was killed in action at Neuve
Chapelle, 10 Mar. 1915, while leading his men; _unm._ A brother
officer, writing to Lord Derby, graphically described the heroism of
the Liverpool Regt. at Neuve Chapelle, stating A Coy. was commanded by
Capt. Feneran, who was killed leading his men, adding that he was a
very sad loss indeed to the Regt. in which he had spent his life, but
that his was a gallant end. Capt. Feneran was mentioned in F.M. Sir
John (now Lord) French’s Despatch of 31 May [London Gazette, 22 June],
1915.
[Illustration: =Frank Edward Feneran.=]
=FENN, DAVID=, Private, 10906, 1st Battn. Coldstream Guards,
_s._ of Harry Fenn, of 36, Leader Road, Hillsboro’, Sheffield;
_b._ co. York; served with the Expeditionary Force in France,
etc.; killed in action at Richebourg, 2 April, 1915. Buried Rue des
Berreaux, Bethune.
=FENNELL, JOHN=, Chief Petty Officer (R.F.R., A. 907), 121737,
H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=FENNESY, RICHARD=, Private, R.M.L.I. (R.F.R., B. 603), H.M.S.
Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914].
=FENWICK, BASIL MIDDLETON=, Sergt., No. 109, A Squadron, 10th West
Australian Light Horse, only _s._ of Charles Richard Fenwick, of
Ben Rhydding, Yorks, and 26, Park Row, Leeds, M. Inst. C.E., F.S.I.,
by his wife, Margaret, dau. of William Middleton, Solicitor; _b._
Pool, co. York, 3 Sept. 1885; educ. Haileybury College; went to West
Australia in 1909 to the Murchison Goldfield; volunteered on the
outbreak of War in Aug. 1914, and joined the Commonwealth Expeditionary
Force; left for Egypt in Feb. 1915, went to the Dardanelles;
volunteered for special duty on 30 May, 1915, in the counter attack
at Quinn’s Post, was there wounded and invalided into Hospital at
Alexandria, being mentioned by his C.O., Maj. Thomas J. Todd, in his
report; was promoted Sergt. June or July; returned to duty at Anzac in
Aug. and was killed in action there a few days later, 7 Aug. 1915, on
Russell’s Top, in the attack on the Turkish position at Walker’s Ridge.
In this terrible charge some 700 men were killed in the course of a few
minutes. Major Todd wrote, 22 Oct. 1915: “It may be a consolation to
know that your son was specially mentioned for conspicuous bravery and
I had him picked out for a commission, he was indeed a fine soldier.”
Sergt. Arundel in hospital told a friend: “Sergt. Fenwick was one of
the bravest, finest men on the Peninsula, a born soldier--a hero--he
first distinguished himself at Quinn’s Post, bomb throwing in the most
extraordinary brave way. He picked up and returned live bombs thrown
by the Turks.” Trooper Sydney G. E. Robson wrote, 2 Oct. 1915: “In
the charge at Quinn’s Post (30 May) we were side by side. Here your
son showed great courage, he was first over the parapet, his coolness
and initiative in the captured Turks’ trench undoubtedly saved our
lives.” Major Love asked for names to be mentioned for distinction, a
memorial was signed by the survivors, unanimously Basil Fenwick’s was
voted. Lieut.-Gen. Sir Alexander Godley, C.B., K.C.M.G., also wrote: “I
understand that he was looked upon by his comrades and officers as a
particularly fine soldier and an exceptionally brave man.”
[Illustration: =Basil Middleton Ferwick.=]
=FENWICK, FREDERICK RICHARD WILLIAM=, L.-Corpl., No. 11044,
_s._ of John Fenwick, of 85, Oriel Street, Hirst Ashington,
Northumberland; _b._ Durham; served with the Expeditionary Force
in France, etc.; killed in action at Givenchy, 22 Dec. 1914, aged 22.
=FEREDAY, THOMAS HAROLD=, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., B. 10391),
108085, H.M.S. Hogue; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=FERG, EDWARD CHARLES=, Private, No. 840, 8th Battn. Canadian
Expeditionary Force, 2nd _s._ of Fannin Ferg (born in Germany,
went to Canada at the age of five), by his wife Sarah (Monkton,
Ontario, Canada), dau. of William Blighton, of Newark, England;
_b._ Elma Township, Perth co., P. Ontario, 23 July, 1887; educ.
local Public School; was a Locomotive Engineer; joined 90th Winnipeg
Rifles, in Aug. 1914, after the outbreak of War; left Canada with the
1st Contingent, and was killed in action at Langemarck, 22 April, 1915;
_unm._ He was buried at St. Julien, near Ypres.
[Illustration: =Edward Charles Ferg.=]
=FERGUSON, JAMES=, Private, No. 10202, 2nd Battn. Scots Guards,
_s._ of James Ferguson, of 43, Lorburn Street, Dumfries; enlisted
4 Sept. 1914, aged 19; served with the Expeditionary Force in France,
etc.; killed in action, 16 May, 1915; _unm._
=FERGUSON, JOHN=, Private, No. 3361, 2nd Battn. The Royal Scots.
2nd _s._ of the late Thomas Ferguson, Wool Factory Worker, by his
wife, Mary (16, Lothian Street, Hawick), dau. of John Watts; _b._
Weensland, Hawick, co. Roxburgh, 20 Sept. 1879; educ. Trinity School
there; worked on North British Railway, enlisted 10 Sept., 1914, went
to the front 10 Oct. 1914, and was killed in action at Petite La
Bloise, near Kemmel, Belgium, 14 Dec. 1914; _unm._
[Illustration: =John Ferguson.=]
=FERGUSON, MATTHEW=, Private, No. 11699, 1st Battn. Highland L.I.;
served with the Expeditionary Force in France, etc.; killed in action
at Neuve Chapelle 11–18 March, 1915.
=FERGUSON, PETER=, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., B. 10201), 298040,
H.M.S. Hawke; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15
Oct. 1914; _m._
=FERGUSON, ROBERT=, Private, No. 7060, 1st Battn. Highland L.I.;
served with the Expeditionary Force in France, etc.; killed in action
at Richebourg, 17–23 May, 1915; _m._
=FERGUSON, WILLIAM=, Private, No. 13355, 11th (Service) Battn.
Royal Scots (Lothian Regt.); served with the Expeditionary Force in
France; killed in action, 27 Sept. 1915.
=FERGUSON, WILLIAM=, Private, No. 1799, 10th (Service) Battn.
Highland Light Infantry, eldest _s._ of the late Archibald
Ferguson, Electric Crane Driver, by his wife, Helen (106, Green Street,
Calton, Glasgow), dau. of the late William Thompson; _b._ Calton,
26 Nov. 1894; educ. Campbellfield Public School, Glasgow; was employed
as machine man with Singers, Clydebank; enlisted 15 Dec. 1914; went
to France in May, 1915; volunteered as a bomb thrower, and was killed
at the Battle of Loos, 25 Sept. 1915, when in advance with a bombing
party; _unm._ He is believed to have been buried at Cambrin.
[Illustration: =William Ferguson.=]
=FERGUSSON, JAMES ADAM HAMILTON=, 2nd Lieut., 2nd Battn. Highland
L.I., 4th _s._ of Sir James Ranken Fergusson, of Spitalhaugh, co.
Peebles, 2nd Bt., J.P., by his wife, Alice Fanny, dau. of the late
John Price Simpson; _b._ London, 22 March, 1892; educ. Ardvreck,
Crieff, Winchester College, and Sandhurst; gazetted 2nd Lieut. Highland
L.I., 14 Feb. 1912, was promoted Lieut. June or July, 1914, went to
France with his regt., Aug. 1914, and was killed at the Battle of the
Aisne, 20 Sept. 1914, being shot through the forehead after rising
from assisting a wounded man; _unm._ He was a good golfer, a keen
sportsman, and a most dutiful son.
[Illustration: =James A. H. Fergusson.=]
=FERGUSSON, ROBERT FRANK=, Lieut., 1/5th Battn. Royal Scots
Fusiliers (T.F.), elder _s._ of David Fergusson, of 7, Park
Terrace, Ayr, Scotland, Bachelor of Laws, Solicitor, by his wife,
Mary K., dau. of the late Andrew Galloway, of Ayr; _b._ Ayr, 6
April, 1893; educ. Ayr Academy, and Glasgow University; served his
apprenticeship with his father, and afterwards completed it in the
office of Messrs. Russell & Duncan, Solicitors, 105, St. Vincent
Street, Glasgow, with whom he was when the war broke out. During the
two years he was in Glasgow he completed his law course for the B.L.
degree and had passed three of his examinations. He received his
commission, 1 Sept. 1914; was promoted Lieut. on the 30th of that
month; left with his regt. for the Dardanelles on 20 May, 1915, and
was killed in action there, 12 July, 1915; _unm._ Lieut.-Col. J.
B. Pollok M’Call, Commanding the 5th Battn., wrote: “Whilst leading
his men about 4 p.m. on 12th July he was struck in the heart. He was
immediately carried down and at once attended to by our doctor. The
doctor told me he was afraid he had no chance, as he feared a large
blood-vessel was severed. Your son was sent on to try and get him to
hospital, but he died on the way down, three hours after he was hit. He
was partly conscious, but I do not think he suffered. He had been in
the thick of the fight since early morning, and had done splendidly. I
feel his loss to the 1/5th greatly. We buried him next day, and put a
cross on his grave.” Capt. Cook also wrote: “He was killed on the 12th
inst., in an action lasting from the 11th to the 15th. He did his part
right nobly, leading his men across an open space of 200 yards amidst
shell, rifle, and machine-gun fire. He reached his objective with few
losses owing to his vigour and determination and the inspiring example
he set his men. But unfortunately while busy with the work of reversing
and consolidating the captured trench, he was struck down with shrapnel
which at this stage was continuous. All was done that could be to make
him comfortable and when night began to fall we had him taken back over
the open to a dressing station where he received skilled aid, but he
died the same evening. He was a gallant officer and a fine comrade and
his loss is greatly deplored by all ranks.”
[Illustration: =Robert Frank Fergusson.=]
=FERNS, HAROLD JOHNSON=, A.B. (R.F.R., B. 3516), 196242, H.M.S.
Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.