A Great War 1917 ‘Ypres’ M.M. group of four awarded to Sergeant, later Lieutenant, J. H. Ferguson, 2nd Australian Pioneer Battalion, Australian Imperial Force

Military Medal, G.V.R. (795 Sjt: J. H. Ferguson. 2/Aust: Pnr: Bn:); 1914-15 Star (795 Pte. J. H. Ferguson 27/Bn. A.I.F.); British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. J. H. Ferguson. A.I.F.), with a silver prize shield, hallmarks for Birmingham 1908, obverse engraved ‘J. H. F.’, light contact marks overall, therefore very fine or better (4) £700-900

M.M. London Gazette 12 December 1917. The original recommendation states:

‘At 10.30am on 19th September a party under Lieutenant T. Smith was constructing a road east of Bellwaard Lake. The party was subjected to prolonged shelling by big guns, falling very heavy at times. Lieutenant Smith had to be removed wounded and the Sergeant [Ferguson] took charge. By his cool leadership he directed the men and kept them steadily working despite casualties and also attended to the wounded. His actions ensured steady progress on a most important work that had to be finished that day.’

Recommended (unsuccessfully) for the M.S.M., 3 October 1916:

‘Consistently good work and devotion to duty since the Battalion was formed in March.’

J. H. Ferguson was born in Gawler, South Australia, in 1892. He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force at Keswick, South Australia on 26 February 1915, and was posted to the 2nd Australian Pioneer Battalion. He served with the Battalion in Gallipoli, before serving in the French theatre of war as part of the 2nd Australian Division from May 1916.

Ferguson served with the Battalion at Ypres, and was awarded his M.M. for gallantry in operations in and around Bellwaard Lake, 19 September 1917. The battalion’s War Diary lists 1 Officer and 1 other rank killed and 1 Officer and 7 other ranks wounded whilst the new road near Bellwaard Lake was constructed.

On 5 November 1918, Ferguson was commissioned Second Lieutenant, and he returned to Australia in H.M.A.T Warwickshire 5 April 1919.