Maurice Fergusson
Encyclopedia
Brigadier
Maurice Alfred Fergusson DSO
, MC & Bar
(5 December 1895 – 27 September 1975) was an Australian army officer and grazier.
Fergusson was born at Caulfield
in Melbourne
to Mauritian
-born bank manager Ernest Fairchild Fergusson and Alfritha Elizabeth, née Turner. He attended University High School before working as a jackeroo and undergoing compulsory military training. Fergusson enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force
on 24 August 1914 and was posted to Egypt
in the 1st Field Artillery Brigade. He was promoted from gunner to bombardier
in March 1915, landing at Gallipoli
on 25 April. He was hospitalised in England for enteric fever from September. In July 1916 he was sent to the Western Front
.
Fergusson was commissioned in December 1916 and promoted lieutenant
in May 1917. Wounded at Messines
on 7 June, he was mentioned in dispatches
. He was awarded the Military Cross
after saving his battery's guns and many of his men near Cérisy-Gailly
, winning a Bar to his MC for his actions from February to March. Injured in an accident in August, he was transferred to England and granted a disability pension
, which he voluntarily surrendered in 1922. He married Effie Hazel Skinner at Southampton
on 6 January 1916.
After the termination of his commission on 25 March 1919, Fergusson and his wife returned to Australia. Fergusson farmed at Whittlesea
from 1927 and was a local councillor from 1930 to 1934, serving from 1931 to 1932 as president. He contested the Victorian Legislative Assembly
seat of Evelyn
in 1932 as an independent United Australia Party
candidate, but was defeated.
Fergusson remained in the militia from 1926 to 1932 and rejoined in 1936. He was given command of the 8th Light Horse Regiment in 1936 and promoted lieutenant-colonel in 1939; on 13 October he returned to the AIF to take command of the 6th Divisional Reconnaissance Regiment
. Posted to the Middle East
from February 1940, Fergusson was wounded on 9 March 1941 at the siege of Giarabub in Libya
and returned to Australia in June. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order
and again mentioned in dispatches. He returned to active service in November, commanding the 2/17th Battalion
from January to February 1942 in Syria
. He returned to Australia in March and was promoted temporary brigadier
in April, leading the 1st and 2nd Armoured and 2nd Infantry brigades from 1942 to 1944. He commanded the 8th Infantry Brigade from August 1944 in New Guinea
, being mentioned in dispatches a third time, and returned to Australia on 16 August 1945, where he transferred to the Reserve as honorary brigadier.
Fergusson stood for the Senate
as a Liberal Party
candidate in 1946, but was defeated. He moved to Inverell
in New South Wales
in 1946 and to Moreton Bay
in Queensland
in 1949, farming near Leadville
. In 1966 he retired to Sydney
. Fergusson died at Dunedoo
in 1975 and was buried in Moreton Bay; his wife and four of his six sons survived him (one, Terence, had been killed in action in 1942 in Papua).
Brigadier
Brigadier is a senior military rank, the meaning of which is somewhat different in different military services. The brigadier rank is generally superior to the rank of colonel, and subordinate to major general....
Maurice Alfred Fergusson DSO
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
, MC & Bar
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
(5 December 1895 – 27 September 1975) was an Australian army officer and grazier.
Fergusson was born at Caulfield
Caulfield, Victoria
Caulfield is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 12 km south-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Glen Eira...
in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
to Mauritian
Mauritius
Mauritius , officially the Republic of Mauritius is an island nation off the southeast coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean, about east of Madagascar...
-born bank manager Ernest Fairchild Fergusson and Alfritha Elizabeth, née Turner. He attended University High School before working as a jackeroo and undergoing compulsory military training. Fergusson enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force
Australian Imperial Force
The Australian Imperial Force was the name given to all-volunteer Australian Army forces dispatched to fight overseas during World War I and World War II.* First Australian Imperial Force * Second Australian Imperial Force...
on 24 August 1914 and was posted to Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
in the 1st Field Artillery Brigade. He was promoted from gunner to bombardier
Bombardier (rank)
Bombardier is a rank used in artillery units in the armies of Commonwealth countries instead of corporal. Lance-bombardier is used instead of lance-corporal....
in March 1915, landing at Gallipoli
Gallipoli
The Gallipoli peninsula is located in Turkish Thrace , the European part of Turkey, with the Aegean Sea to the west and the Dardanelles straits to the east. Gallipoli derives its name from the Greek "Καλλίπολις" , meaning "Beautiful City"...
on 25 April. He was hospitalised in England for enteric fever from September. In July 1916 he was sent to the Western Front
Western Front
Western Front was a term used during the First and Second World Wars to describe the contested armed frontier between lands controlled by Germany to the east and the Allies to the west...
.
Fergusson was commissioned in December 1916 and promoted lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
in May 1917. Wounded at Messines
Battle of Messines
The Battle of Messines was a battle of the Western front of the First World War. It began on 7 June 1917 when the British Second Army under the command of General Herbert Plumer launched an offensive near the village of Mesen in West Flanders, Belgium...
on 7 June, he was mentioned in dispatches
Mentioned in Dispatches
A soldier Mentioned in Despatches is one whose name appears in an official report written by a superior officer and sent to the high command, in which is described the soldier's gallant or meritorious action in the face of the enemy.In a number of countries, a soldier's name must be mentioned in...
. He was awarded the Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
after saving his battery's guns and many of his men near Cérisy-Gailly
Cerisy
Cerisy is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.-Geography:Cerisy is a small village in the district known as the Santerre, to the east of Amiens and 12 km from Albert.-Population:-External links:* *...
, winning a Bar to his MC for his actions from February to March. Injured in an accident in August, he was transferred to England and granted a disability pension
Disability pension
A disability pension is a form of pension given to those people who are permanently or temporarily unable to work due to a disability. It is distinct from welfare.- North America :...
, which he voluntarily surrendered in 1922. He married Effie Hazel Skinner at Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
on 6 January 1916.
After the termination of his commission on 25 March 1919, Fergusson and his wife returned to Australia. Fergusson farmed at Whittlesea
Whittlesea, Victoria
Whittlesea is a town in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, north-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Whittlesea. At the 2006 Census, Whittlesea had a population of 4,563.-History:...
from 1927 and was a local councillor from 1930 to 1934, serving from 1931 to 1932 as president. He contested the Victorian Legislative Assembly
Victorian Legislative Assembly
The Victorian Legislative Assembly is the lower house of the Parliament of Victoria in Australia. Together with the Victorian Legislative Council, the upper house, it sits in Parliament House in the state capital, Melbourne.-History:...
seat of Evelyn
Electoral district of Evelyn
The Electoral district of Evelyn is an electorate of the Victorian Legislative Assembly covering the urban fringe north east of Melbourne. It was first proclaimed in 1859.The seat has shrunk considerably in size as the eastern suburbs of Melbourne grew...
in 1932 as an independent United Australia Party
United Australia Party
The United Australia Party was an Australian political party that was founded in 1931 and dissolved in 1945. It was the political successor to the Nationalist Party of Australia and predecessor to the Liberal Party of Australia...
candidate, but was defeated.
Fergusson remained in the militia from 1926 to 1932 and rejoined in 1936. He was given command of the 8th Light Horse Regiment in 1936 and promoted lieutenant-colonel in 1939; on 13 October he returned to the AIF to take command of the 6th Divisional Reconnaissance Regiment
2/6th Cavalry Commando Regiment (Australia)
The 2/6th Cavalry Commando Regiment was a cavalry regiment of the Australian Army that served during the Second World War and was later converted into to a commando unit. Initially formed at Ingleburn, New South Wales, on 3 November 1939 following the commencement of Australia's involvement in the...
. Posted to the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
from February 1940, Fergusson was wounded on 9 March 1941 at the siege of Giarabub in Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
and returned to Australia in June. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
and again mentioned in dispatches. He returned to active service in November, commanding the 2/17th Battalion
2/17th Battalion (Australia)
The 2/17th Battalion was an infantry battalion of the Australian Army. Raised in April 1940 in New South Wales, the unit saw service in the Middle East in 1941–42, taking part in the fighting at Tobruk and El Alamein before returning to Australia early in 1943. In 1943–44 the battalion fought in...
from January to February 1942 in Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
. He returned to Australia in March and was promoted temporary brigadier
Brigadier
Brigadier is a senior military rank, the meaning of which is somewhat different in different military services. The brigadier rank is generally superior to the rank of colonel, and subordinate to major general....
in April, leading the 1st and 2nd Armoured and 2nd Infantry brigades from 1942 to 1944. He commanded the 8th Infantry Brigade from August 1944 in New Guinea
New Guinea
New Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
, being mentioned in dispatches a third time, and returned to Australia on 16 August 1945, where he transferred to the Reserve as honorary brigadier.
Fergusson stood for the Senate
Australian Senate
The Senate is the upper house of the bicameral Parliament of Australia, the lower house being the House of Representatives. Senators are popularly elected under a system of proportional representation. Senators are elected for a term that is usually six years; after a double dissolution, however,...
as a Liberal Party
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
candidate in 1946, but was defeated. He moved to Inverell
Inverell, New South Wales
Inverell is a town in northern New South Wales, Australia, situated on the Macintyre River. It is also the centre of Inverell Shire. Inverell is located on the Gwydir Highway on the western slopes of the Northern Tablelands. It has a temperate climate...
in New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
in 1946 and to Moreton Bay
Moreton Bay
Moreton Bay is a bay on the eastern coast of Australia 45 km from Brisbane, Queensland. It is one of Queensland's most important coastal resources...
in Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
in 1949, farming near Leadville
Leadville, New South Wales
Leadville is a town in New South Wales, Australia. The town is located in the Warrumbungle Shire local government area, north west of the state capital, Sydney. At the 2006 census, Leadville and the surrounding area had a population of 186.-References:...
. In 1966 he retired to Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
. Fergusson died at Dunedoo
Dunedoo, New South Wales
Dunedoo ) is a village of 836 inhabitants situated within the Warrumbungle Shire of central western New South Wales, Australia. Dunedoo is well known to Australian travellers due to its distinctive name...
in 1975 and was buried in Moreton Bay; his wife and four of his six sons survived him (one, Terence, had been killed in action in 1942 in Papua).