Lt W.S. Ferguson
Karman,
I just received a copy of Cliff Chadderton’s book “Excuse us! Herr Schicklgruber”. The Lt Ferguson that he refers to is William .S. (Bill) Ferguson. This is from page 42-43 of his book:
“Later that day, 58 Winnipeg Rifles and others were headed into a field south of the Chateau d’Audrieu. The notorious German SS Gen Wilhelm Mohnke saw the Canadians as he was driving by. He lined up two mobile Jerry vehicles armed with fixed Spandau MGs. Two officers (Lt Bill Ferguson, RWR and Tom Windsor, Sherbrooke Fusiliers) told the captured men to be quiet as their lives might be saved. The two courageous officers were cut down as they started towards Mohnke. The rest of the RWRs and several soldiers from other units had been disarmed and personal effects taken from them. They were practically annihilated by murderous MG fire as they scattered. Most were killed (five escaped).
“Bill Ferguson is commemorated by the naming of Ferguson Island (63 N/11) in Morin Lake, Manitoba.”
Note that Chadderton made a mistake by including Lt Tom Windsor. Lt Windsor was one of the Canadian soldiers murdered at the Abbaye d’ Ardenne, and not at Chateau d’Audrieu. He must have meant Lt. R.D. Barker of the 3rd Anti-Tank Regiment.
John
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