One of 'Churchill's Boys'
Flying Officer William Matthews Ferguson Royal Air Force and Coastguard Auxiliary
The Man William Matthews Ferguson (Billy) was born on Monday 31st October 1921 in Berwick, Northumberland, Son of John, a Timber Checker and Robina nee Scott. His religion was Church of England and he was one of four children, John, Ronald Thomas and Ruby. Following his education at Tweedmouth Council and Berwick Grammar Schools he became an Agricultural Supplement Makers Clerk at Messrs Wm Elder and Sons Ltd, and in the 1939 census is shown as living with his parents and brother Ronald at 3 Bakewell Gardens, Berwick Upon Tweed. Both John and Ronald were shown as serving in the ARP and Billy joined the local Home Guard and attended classes of the local Air Training Corps. At the start of World War II, Billy and family were now living at 1 Osborne Place, Tweedmouth, Berwick. He enlisted into the Royal Air Force, attested on 11th June 1941 and mobilised on 6th October aged 19, for the duration of the war initially as LAC. His service number was 1553423, from a block of numbers (1550001 – 1575000) allotted to Edinburgh in May 1941. Billy joined the flying branch as a trainee Navigator and issued with his full flying kit on 12th February 1942 at RAF Brighton. He was trained as a Navigator in South Africa during late 1942 and 1943 and gained his ‘wings’ in the Transvall, writing home to his parents describing how kind the South Africans had been to the RAF. Describing them as ‘Churchill’s Boys’. Once his training was completed he journeyed north by train to Arabia and Jerusalem and it was here in the Middle East that Billy literally ‘bumped’ into his brother, John, who was a Sergeant in the Royal Army Ordnance Corps. His other brother Ronald was a Royal Marine and his sister Ruby working in Government offices in London. Following service in the Burma campaign, he returned to the UK in June 1944 and continued his training, based at RAF Castle Donnington. It was noted on his kit deficiency list that he had lost one Khaki Drill frock, 1 pair of KD shorts and three KD shirts en route. He was subsequently promoted through the ranks to Warrant Officer. His RAF Sight Log Book and Navigators Log Book record him completing numerous training missions in the UK later in the war, flying in Ansons, Wellingtons and Dakotas. He completed his Practical Astro Course (No 8) at 78 OTU in July 1944, and 1382 TCU No 15 course at RAF Wymeswold on 12th November 1945.
At the end of the War Billy was awarded the 1939-45 Star, Burma Star, Defence Medal and War Medal 1939-45 and he became an Insurance Agent. On 26th October 1966 Billy was Commissioned into the RAF VR(T) as a Flying Officer and serving at 1016 (Berwick) Squadron, Northumberland Wing ATC. He was promoted to Flying Officer on 26th October 1968 and appears to have been a keen shooter as he was authorised in 1975 to conduct long range practice with a .303 Rifle up to 600 yards. He was awarded the Cadet Forces Medal with effect from 26th October 1978 and relinquished his Commission the same day aged 56. He also served with Her Majesty’s Coast Guard Auxiliary Service but the specific details are not known. He was however awarded the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal for 20 years service. Billy passed away on 22nd September 2003 aged 81at the Berwick Care Centre in Northumberland, still living at 1 Osborne Place, and seems never to have married. He died of Bronchopneumonia and COPD, psychotic depression and dementia.
The Story. The medals awarded to William Matthews Ferguson were acquired from E-Bay on Sunday 3rd October 2019. The interest was the unusual double long award of the Cadet Forces and Coastguard Long Service and Good Conduct Medals. A decent amount of paperwork and original documentation came with the group and together with Ancestry.UK and the London Gazette helped build up a brief biography of a man with an unusual not often seen group of medals.
Medal Details:
- 1939-34 Star: Unnamed as awarded.
- Burma Star: Unnamed as awarded.
- Defence Medal: Unnamed as awarded.
- War Medal 1939-45: Unnamed as awarded.
- Cadet forces Medal: FG.OFF. W.M.FERGUSON. R.A.F.V.R.(T).
- HM Coastguard Long Service and Good Conduct Medal: W.M.FERGUSON
Return to: The Collection
Go to Previous Page: Arthur FAULKNER
Go to next Page: Hector Charles FEVERYEAR
Go to Previous Page: Arthur FAULKNER
Go to next Page: Hector Charles FEVERYEAR
This page last updated 12 Dec 19