Pvt. Arthur William Ferguson-Bennett

EARLY YEARS

Arthur was raised by Jessie Ann and James Thomas Ferguson, but believed to have been adopted from one of Jessie's brother's(most likely her brother Arthur Bennett) which explains the otherwise unnecessary double barrelled surname. Arthur grew up living in railway cottages on the Eastern Line, where the family later settled in Tylden, Cathcart. At some point, prior to the war, Arthur moved to Transvaal and was working as a Reduction Plant Worker for the Chamber of Mines.

ARMY SERVICE AND DEATH

Service No. 262, Rand Rifles - 13th October 1914 to 28th July 1915
Service No. 13231, 1st South African Infantry, 3rd Regiment - 14th March 1917 to 2nd August 1917 Service No. 13231, 1st South African Infantry, 3rd Regiment, D Company" - 18th August 1917 to 15th February 1918
Service No. 13231, 1st South African Infantry, 4th Regiment, A Company - 16th February 1918 to 24th March 1918

WW1 - German South West Africa - On returning from active service where his eldest brother was killed, Arthur married Agnes Marie Murgatroyd, and as he left for France in 1917, she became pregnant with their first born child who he would never meet.

Marriage Certificate

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C91L-C38V-X?cat=719938

WW1 - France - Arthur embarked at Cape Town per HMS Euripides on 20th April 1917. Eleven months later began 'the German spring offensive, or Kaiserschlacht ("Kaiser's Battle"), also known as the Ludendorff offensive, a series of German attacks along the Western Front during the First World War. The first phase began on 21 March 1918, known as 'Operation Michael', the 'First German Drive' or 'Somme Offensive'.

Three days later, on the 24th, Arthur and his brother James are noted as 'missing'. It's later confirmed that James was injured and captured as a Prisoner of War, whilst Arthur was killed in action.

Death Registration

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS4V-T3T3-W

Death Certificate

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS9P-3RLN?mode=g&i=229...

South African War Graves

http://www.southafricawargraves.org/search/details.php?id=1583

Forces War Records Dedication Wall

https://www.forces-war-records.co.uk/dedication-wall/2352/arthur-wi...

Panels 95-98.