In Yokohama War Cemetery, Japan is the Commonwealth War Grave of:

L. Ferguson
Third Engineer Officer
S.S. “Wellpark”
25th July 1945   age 33

Loving memories of our dear son. Sadly missed
by Mam & Dad. Till we meet again

He was the son of Robert and Ellen Ferguson, of Hebburn, Co. Durham.

Jean Longstaff has submitted the following:-
Ellen Kenny from Jarrow married Robert Ferguson of Hebburn in 1907 and by 1911 they were living at 21 St. Rollox Street, Hebburn with their first born son Robert (b.1908), and he was followed by Leonard, born on 14th September 1911 and then Dorothy (b.1914).  Father Robert was a locomotive brakeman at Tharsis Sulphur and Copper Company in Hebburn.  Still at the same address in 1939 Leonard was the only one of the three siblings still with his parents, but only because he was on leave from his post as an engineer with the Mercantile Marine.

Posted to the SS Wellpark Leonard was on a return voyage from the United States with cargo for the Middle East, travelling round the Cape of Good Hope as the Mediterranean was too dangerous. Sunk by a German raider, Thor, on 29th March 1942 the crew were picked up by German vessels and taken to Yokohama in Japan.

Held in Tokyo 2B Kawasaki Prisoner of War Camp Leonard was one of 22 prisoners killed in an air raid by B-29s on 25th July 1945.

Leonard Ferguson is remembered at Hebburn on H93.15 and on our List of Ships’ Crews.