Richard George Ferguson VICARS

Regimental number10118
Date of birth30 November 1890
Place of birthPalmerston North
ReligionPresbyterian
OccupationFitter and Turner
Address115 Newton Road
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation25
Height5' 4.5"
Weight128 lbs
Next of kinFather, Robert Vicars, Suva, Fiji
Previous military serviceEnlisted in No.4 Battery, NZFA, December 1914 (left on own accord)
Enlistment date15 December 1915
Place of enlistmentTrentham
Rank on embarkationPrivate
Unit nameNew Zealand Expeditionary Force, 11th Reinforcements (including Details to make up shortages in 10th Reinforcements), J Company
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Wellington on 1 April 1916
The 11th Reinforcements left New Zealand on board two ships (HMNZT 49 'Maunganui' and HMNZT 50 'Tahiti'). It is not possible from the Nominal Roll to determine on which ship an individual embarked. The Nominal Roll gives the date of departure as 1 April 1916; harbour records indicate that the actual date of embarkation was 2 April 1916.
Final rankPrivate
Final unit1st Battalion, Auckland Infantry Regiment
FateKilled in Action 7 June 1917
Age at death from cemetery records25
Place of burialMessines Ridge British Cemtery (Plot I, Row D, Grave No 24), Belgium
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Parents: R. and E.E. Vicars, Suva, Fiji
Other details

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Embarked Wellington, 2 April 1916; disembarked Suez, Egypt, 3 May 1916; taken on strength, 1st Training Bn, Tel el Kebir, 4 May 1916.

Proceeded overseas to England, 29 May 1916, disembarked Devonport, 9 June 1916; taken on strength, 2nd Training Bn, Sling Camp, 15 June 1916.

Proceeded overseas to France, 26 September 1916; marched into NZ Infantry and General Base Depot, Etaples, 27 September 1916.

Joined 1st Bn, Auckland Regiment, in the field, 12 October 1916.

Admitted to No.2 NZ Field Ambulance, 26 October 1916; transferred to Divisional Rest Station, 3 November 1916 (diarrhoea); discharged, 6 November 1916; rejoined unit, 10 November 1916.

Detached to railway construction, 6 March 1917; rejoined unit, 9 April 1917.

Detached to 2nd NZ Infantry Brigade Headquarters as a runner, 2 June 1917.

Killed in action, in the field, France or Belgium, 7 June 1917.

Buried, U.Z.C.8.8, 400 yards up from foot of hill where Stinking Farm Road cuts Messines Hill, Grave No.142.

Reuried Messines Ridge British Cemetery, 18 December 1918.

Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNominal Roll Vol. 2: Roll 28, p. 18
Archives New Zealand (Wellington), Agency AABK, Series 18805, File 22020709