The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (528) Corporal Theodore William Ferguson, 44th Australian Infantry Battalion, AIF, First World War.

The Last Post Ceremony is presented in the Commemorative area of the Australian War Memorial each day. The ceremony commemorates more than 102,000 Australians who have given their lives in war and other operations and whose names are recorded on the Roll of Honour. At each ceremony the story behind one of the names on the Roll of Honour is told. Hosted by Richard Cruise, the story for this day was on (528) Corporal Theodore William Ferguson, 44th Australian Infantry Battalion, AIF, First World War.

528 Corporal Theodore William Ferguson, 44th Australian Infantry Battalion, AIF
KIA 24 June 1917
No photograph in collection

Story delivered 17 October 2015

Today we remember and pay tribute to Corporal Theodore William Ferguson.

Born in Fremantle in Western Australia, Ferguson was a Salvation Army bandsman and a junior mechanic working in Midland Junction – now a suburb of Perth – when he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in January 1916, aged 18.

He was assigned to the 44th Battalion, which formed part of the 11th Brigade of the 3rd Australian Division. The battalion left Australia that June and proceeded to Britain for further training.

Ferguson was part of the battalion band, but saw his place as in the trenches. His unit arrived in France and entered the front line of the Western Front for the first time towards the end of December 1916.

The 44th Battalion spent the bleak winter of 1916–17 alternating between service in the front line and training and labouring in the rear areas. In late January Private Ferguson was hospitalised for some time with an ulcer on his right foot.

He returned to his battalion shortly before it was employed on a major raid at Armentières, an ill-fated effort involving almost half the battalion. At the end of March he was made lance corporal, and was promoted to temporary corporal at the end of May.

The 44th Battalion fought in its first major battle that June at Messines in Belgium. Ferguson distinguished himself during the fierce fighting, and Lieutenant Arthur Lintott later wrote to his parents of his gallant actions:
It was at Messines where he made an undying name for himself. He was a tower of strength to the whole company, and conducted a daring reconnaissance down one of the uncaptured German trenches; it was for this he was awarded the Military Medal.

On 24 June the battalion was consolidating positions gained at Messines under heavy shelling by the Germans. It was at this time that Ferguson was hit by a shell, and he died instantly. Lieutenant Lintott wrote:
He will never be forgotten by the officers of C Company, who looked upon him as one of the bravest, and, had he been spared, he undoubtedly would have been granted a commission. I myself have lost a great friend, and The Salvation Army has lost one of its shining lights; personally, I hope that when my turn comes, I shall have lived and died as your son Theo did.

The adjutant of the 44th Battalion also wrote to Ferguson’s parents:
Your boy’s consistent devotion to duty, and his popularity amongst his comrades, made a marked effect on all members of his company, all of whom are grieved at the loss of such a comrade so highly esteemed.

Theodore Ferguson’s name is listed here on the Roll of Honour on my right, among the more than 60,000 Australians who died serving in the First World War.

This is but one of the many stories of service and sacrifice told here at the Australian War Memorial. We now remember Corporal Theodore William Ferguson, and all those Australians who have given their lives in the service of our nation.

Emma Campbell
Writer, Military History Section