Jul 11, 1897

Born in Ameliasburgh Township, Ontario to Charles and Martha (nee Parliament) Ferguson

Dec 19, 1916

Attested into the 254^th Battalion CEF in Belleville, Ontario

Ø  Number 1093151

Ø  Next of kin given as C.W. Ferguson, father, Ameliasburgh, Ontario

Ø  Previous occupation given as Farmer

Ø  No previous military experience given

Ø  Religion given as Methodist

The battalion trained in the Belleville, Ontario area

Jan 23, 1917

Admitted to the Ongwanada Military Hospital in Kingston with a diagnosis that reads Inflamed Tonsils

Jan 25, 1917

Discharged to duty from hospital

Feb 16, 1917

Appointed to the rank of Acting Sergeant

Apr 10, 1917

Admitted to the Ongwanada Military Hospital in Kingston with a diagnosis that reads Toothache and was transferred to the Base Hospital in Toronto, Ontario

Apr 16, 1917

Discharged to duty from hospital

May 1, 1917

Promoted to the rank of Sergeant

May 29, 1917

Reverted to the rank of Private and embarked the SS Olympic in Halifax, Nova Scotia

Jun 9, 1917

Disembarked in Liverpool, England and the battalion proceeded to Seaford where it was absorbed into the 6^th Reserve Battalion to continue training

Sep 2, 1917

Transferred to the 21^st Battalion

Arrived at the No. 2 CIBD (Canadian Infantry Base Depot) in Etaples, France and Taken On Strength of the 21^st Battalion

Sep 16, 1917

After leaving the base depot he joined the 2^nd Canadian Entrenching Battalion in Hersin, France

Oct 5, 1917

After leaving the entrenching battalion, Private Ferguson joined the 21^st Battalion on the front line, east of Vimy Ridge, France

Nov 11, 1917

While in the front line at Passchendaele, Belgium, Private Ferguson received a shrapnel wound to his back and was evacuated to the No. 1 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) for first aid before being transported to the No. 2 CCS (Casualty Clearing Station) in Poperinge, Belgium.  While here, surgery was performed to remove shrapnel and to remove a section of a rib.

Nov 16, 1917

Transferred to the No. 54 General Hospital in Aubengue, France

Nov 30, 1917

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship Jan Breydel

On arrival in England, he was admitted to the General Military Hospital in Edmonton, London

Transferred to the EORD (Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot) for pay purposes while in hospital

Mar 8, 1918

Transferred to the Canadian Convalescent Hospital in Bear Wood, Wokingham

Mar 29, 1918

Attached to the 3^rd CCD (Canadian Command Depot) in Seaford for physical training and exercise

May 16, 1918

Ceased to be attached and is now transferred to the 3^rd Canadian Command Depot for duty as a waiter in the Officer’s Mess

Aug 29, 1918

Transferred to the CFC (Canadian Forestry Corps) and reported to the CFCRD (Canadian Forestry Corps Regimental Depot) in Sunningdale

Sep 26, 1918

Admitted to the No. 16 Canadian General Hospital in Orpington, Kent with a diagnosis that reads Furunculosis, a skin infection of his legs

Oct 24, 1918

Discharged from hospital and attached to the 3^rd Canadian Command Depot in Seaford for physical training

Nov 27, 1918

Ceased to be attached and reported to the Canadian Forestry Corps Regimental Depot in Sunningdale

Dec 12, 1918

Attached to the CDD (Canadian Discharge Depot) in Buxton pending return to Canada

Jan 24, 1919

Embarked the SS Grampian in Liverpool

Feb 2, 1919

Disembarked in Saint John, New Brunswick and proceeded to Kingston, Ontario where he was Taken On Strength of Military District No. 3 Casualty Company

Feb 5, 1919

Granted leave until February 18, 1919

Feb 22, 1919

Admitted to the Queen’s University Military Hospital in Kingston for X-Rays and assessment of his back wounds

Feb 26, 1919

Discharged to duty from hospital

Mar 3, 1919

Discharged from the CEF in Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Rank on discharge Private

Ø  War Service Badge Class “A” issued number 90460

Ø  War Service Badge Class “B” issued number 55158

Ø  Proposed residence on discharge Belleville, Ontario

He was entitled to receive the British War Medal and Victory Medals, however, there is no indication in his file that they were ever sent to him

Jun 22, 1939

Married to Vivian Elliott in Toronto, Ontario

Nov 24, 1949

Merritt Keith Ferguson died of Kidney Disease while a patient of the Sunnybrook Veterans Hospital in Toronto, Ontario and was buried in the Salem Church Cemetery in Ameliasburgh, Ontario.  His death was considered to be a result of his front line service, however no Memorial Cross was issued as he married following his discharge and his mother could not be located.