Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Norman Ferguson was born 1890 in Etherley Moor, Co. Durham, the eldest son, one of 7 children, 2 boys and 5 girls, of whom only 4 survived, of Thomas Ferguson born Whitwell, Yorkshire and Elizabeth Petch of Camperdown, Northumberland. His father at the age of 20 was a lodger with the Berchner family at 3 Wood Street, Middlesbrough working as a labourer at the iron works. He and Elizabeth married June 1873 in Stockton. By 1881 they had three daughters and were living in Witton-le-Wear moving to Etherley by 1891 with a further two daughters and infant Norman. William the youngest was born the following year. In 1911, the family consisting of Thomas, his wife and their two sons were living at 93 South Binchester, Windlestone. The men all worked at Windlestone Colliery, Thomas as a shifter, Norman and William were putters.
Norman Ferguson enlisted in Darlington as Private 16785 assigned to 7th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment attacked to the 50th Brigade, 17th Northern Division. They trained in Wareham and May 1915 were moved to Romsay. July 14th 1915 the Battalion embarked for the front landing in Boulogne. Norman was sent to the front August 19th 1915 deployed in the southern Ypres sector. In the spring of 1916 they were in action at the Bluff then moved south to the Somme involved during the Battle of Albert capturing Fricourt and the Battle of Delville Wood. In 1917 they fought in the Battles of Arras and in late summer The Battles of Passchendaele.
February 19th 1918 the 7th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment was disbanded at the front and Norman was transferred as Private 63110 to the 2nd West Yorkshire Regiment. During the rest of 1918 they participated in the Battle of Villers Bretonneux, Battle of Aisne, Battle of Scarpe until the Final Advance in Artois. During the final advance to victory the 2nd Battalion was involved in the Battles of the Hindenburg Line 12th September- 9th October 1918. Private 63110 Norman Ferguson was killed in action September 14th 1918 and is interred at La Targette British Cemetery, Neuville-St Vaast, Pas de Calais, France, grave III. C. 8., he was about 28 years old.
Norman was awarded the 1915 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. His mother Elizabeth was his beneficiary and received all monies due to him as he was unmarried.
In God’s Safe Keeping. Rest In Peace
Norman Ferguson is remembered at Chilton on C107.04, C107.08, C107.09, C107.12and C107.14 (Darlington D40.039) where his date of death is given as 20/07/1917. There is no CWGC entry for a Ferguson in July 1917.
