Orders, Decorations and Medals

A C.M.G. group of eight awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel H. C. Fergusson, Highland Light Infantry

The Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, C.M.G., Companion’s neck badge conversion from a breast badge, silver-gilt and enamel, minor enamel damage to centres; India General Service 1895-1902, 1 clasp, Punjab Frontier 1897-98 (Capt., 2 H.L.I.); 1914-15 Star (Lt. Col., High. L.I.); British War and Victory Medals, copy M.I.D. oak leaf (Lt. Col.); Coronation 1902, silver; Coronation 1911, silver (Lt. Col.A. & S. Highs.); Royal Humane Society Medal, small, bronze, successful (Capt. H. C. Fergusson, Sept. 3 1901), with bronze buckle on ribbon, good very fine (8) £1000-1200

C.M.G. London Gazette 13 January 1916.

M.I.D. London Gazette 1 January 1916.

Herbert Chaworth Fergusson was born on 5 April 1865, the 2nd son of Chaworth Joseph Fergusson, J.P., of Auchinblain, Ayrshire and Blackwood, Co. Westmeath. Commissioned into the Highland Light Infantry in 1886, he was promoted to Captain in 1894. With the 2nd Battalion H.L.I. he served in the campaign on the N.W. Frontier of India under Sir William Lockhart, 1897-98, taking part in the operations of the Malakand and Buner Field Forces and the forcing of the Tanga Pass. In 1901 he was awarded the Royal Humane Society Medal in bronze for saving life.

Case No.31,611, Committee Meeting 17 October 1901 - Salvor: Captain H. C. Fergusson (aged 36), Highland Light Infantry; Saved: Alice Pelly (aged 20); Time and Place: About 11.00am., 3 September 1901, Mouchstown, Co. Dublin; The rescue: ‘While bathing, the lady was carried into 7 to 8 feet of water 50 yards from shore. Salvor threw off his coat, swam out and succeeded in rescuing her’.

Fergusson was promoted to Major in 1904 and retired from active duty in 1907, being placed in the Reserve of Officers and Commanding the 3rd Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 1908-14. Upon the outbreak of the Great War, Fergusson was recalled to active duty and raised and commanded a battalion of the H.L.I. He was later attached to the Welsh Guards, 1916-19. Promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel during the course of the war; for his services he was mentioned in despatches and awarded the C.M.G. During 1919-23 he served in the Secretariat of Cabinet, Historical Section, Committee of Imperial Defences. Lieutenant-Colonel Fergusson died in Hove, Sussex on 28 December 1939. Sold with a quantity of copied research, including eye-witness reports of the ‘R.H.S.’ rescue.