Hi folks.
Haven’t been on here for a while (work, more work etc) but have just received a phone call from a local lady. She has recently been advised that she had a relative who was lost during WWII. Unfortunately, her uncle who knew all has just passed away, and those details known are scant and uncertain.
At this moment in time, all I could do to help this lady is advise her that there are people (YOU) who may be able to peice together the bits of info and complete the story. Also, I have asked her to forward to me any further information she may come across, no matter how insignificant it may appear at the time. If I receive any updates, I will post.
Name: Ken Fergus (or Ferguson) however this may not be correct – see below
DOB: unknown
From: Northern Ireland maybe from Carrickfergus – see above
Rank: unknown
Service: RAF or RAFVR
Training: RAF Llandwrog (now Caernarfon Airfield)
Postings: unknown
Trade: thought to be Nav or A/G but not known for certain
Died: 1943
Place: unknown
Unfortunately, that is all I have. Although I have a deep and strong interest in historic aviation, I do not have the skills/contacts/ability to chase this query myself beyond what I am doing here. Having seen remarkable things happen here before, if there is a chance, however small, for this lady to learn more about her relative, it will be due to the selfless experts on this forum who have accomplished wonders in the past.
camlobe
By: Icare9 - 11th June 2010 at 18:04
From 1st Jan 43 to 8th May1945 there are 1,658 casualties on the CWGC database with a first name initial of “K”!!
There are 63 with a “K” and surname beginning with “F”, however none of them are “Fergus” or “Fergus(s)on”. Apart from a 10 year old being certain the brevet was an “N” and that his name was Ken, is it possible that she could be mistaken about the surname, given the similarity to where he was supposedly from, Carrickfergus? Incidentally only one came up with “Carrickfergus” and that wasn’t any match to our quest.
Perhaps the best way now is to go back and ask the lady why she thinks this “Ken Ferguson” is related? What family connections take her from her family to his? It might trigger a memory that “it was Nellie and Joes boy, what was her name? She was a Smith but she married Joe Brown, not Ferguson, that was their neighbour” kind of moment….
All I can come up with so far is that the Navigator was the safest place to be if your name was Kenneth F….. !!
By: D1566 - 11th June 2010 at 17:17
The only matching names on the ‘Lost Bombers website are all Canadian or Australian (From 01/01/1942 to 31/12/1944)
By: Camlobe - 11th June 2010 at 16:32
Phil Rhodes, thanks for the input. Now I know about the CWGC website.
kev35, thanks for informing me of more history about the airfield I work on but continue to learn about.
A few minutes ago, the lady rang me again. We discussed the help I have already received here with regard to this enquiry. She has asked me to pass on her heartfelt thanks (cue Phil and Kev) and apologised profusely for not having a great deal of information to help start the search.
The reason why she has called was to advise me that her cousin, the one who was eight years old at the time, can clearly remember that Ken had a single wing on his uniform with the letter N attached. So we now know that he was a Navigator.
After a few minutes of quiet conversation, I was able to ascertain a few very personal details that I shall respect as personal and private at this time. What I can say is, Ken was here in February 1943, and was probably here for some time before that.
Still very little to go on, but with time, I may be informed of further details, and will pass on what I can.
camlobe
By: kev35 - 2nd June 2010 at 20:18
Llandwrog was used as both a Navigation and Gunnery school from the time it opened till June 42 when it became 9 (Observers) Advanced Flying Unit. So a gunner or navigator does look likely. I’m not quite sure how we’re going to narrow things down further. I’ve looked for a listing of names for War Memorials in Carrickfergus but without any success so far.
Regards,
kev35
By: Camlobe - 2nd June 2010 at 19:15
Thanks for that guys. That was quick.
I have just spoken to the lady again and managed to find out a couple of little details.
Most importantly, she can confirm the gentlemans first name was Ken.
Secondly, she can confirm that he was at RAF Llandwrog.
She is certain that he came from Northern Ireland.
She thinks he came from Carrickfergus.
These details are from her mother (sadly passed away last year aged 91) and her cousin (who was eight when he met Ken). Her mother has told her that Ken left RAF Llandwrog and went onto bombers, and later died in 1943.
Thanks again,
camlobe
By: kev35 - 2nd June 2010 at 14:39
Just gone through the CWGC records for both Fergus and Ferguson and for any with first or middle names of Kenneth and nothing appropriate has come up so far. Not quite sure where to go next but will have a think.
Regards,
kev35
By: Phillip Rhodes - 2nd June 2010 at 14:38
Hello
There are only three Fergus in the CWGC website and not one of them is a Ken or Kenneth, nor did they die in 1943.
The only Ferguson (died 1943) entries can be found here: http://www.cwgc.org/search/SearchResults.aspx?surname=Ferguson&initials=&war=2&yearfrom=1943&yearto=1943&force=Air&nationality=6&send.x=23&send.y=11
My understanding is that the CWGC have all known KIA from WW2.
Hope the about might be useful.
Best Wishes
Phil Rhodes
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June 2, 2010 at 2:22 pm