2698511 Robert FERGUSON, 2 Scots Guards: 09/11/1943

Discussion in 'The Brigade of Guards' started by dbf, May 17, 2009.

  1. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    Casualty Details | CWGC
    Name and Rank: GUARDSMAN
    ROBERT FERGUSON
    Service Number: 2698511
    Regiment & Unit/Ship: Scots Guards, 2nd Bn.
    Date of Death: Died 09 November 1943
    Age 30 years old
    Buried or commemorated at CASSINO WAR CEMETERY
    Grave Reference: VII. B. 16.
    Location: Italy
    Additional Info: Son of Robert and Jessie Ferguson, of Denny, Stirlingshire.
    Personal Inscription: UNTIL THE DAY DAWN
     
    Last edited: Sep 8, 2020
  2. Guy Hudson

    Guy Hudson Looker-upper

    The Falkirk Herald Saturday 4th December 1943
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    2698511 Guardsman Robert FERGUSON 2nd Battalion Scots Guards
    1913 - 9th November 1943 Monte Camino, Italy aged 30
    Casualty
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    At about seven on the monring of the 9th, after an almost sleepless night of cold and hunger, the combined company position came under heavy spandau fire from 819 and other unidentified posts, and this and sniping and mortar fire caused many casualties, including Captain Rathbone killed and Lt. Fyfe-Jamieson, M.C., wounded. Captain R.L.Coke, the only surviving officer, took over command of the company, and at nine o'clock the German attack developed from the west and north west. It was sucessfully repulsed after about an hour and a half, but the fire continued, and but little movement was possible in prepartion for the next attack. This came in just before noon from the south and south-west, and the Germans, making use of dead ground previously covered by men who had become casualties in the last attack, got within grenade throwing distance and summoned the defenders to surrender. "This was greeted by loud cheers followed by No.36 grenades. The Germans then most unexpectedly withdrew, for no apparant reason except presumably that they had had enough." That was about two o'clock, and there followed a respite during which it was possible to reinforce the weaker places from the stronger and issue the last reserves of ammunition. After about two hours the bombardment restarted, but no attack followed. Instaed, there came the welcome news over the wireless that help was on its way. It was time. There was little water and almost no food, the Grenadiers shared their dwindling rations with the Company, and no hope of getting the seriously wounded away. When it got dark the worst cases was collected and made as comfortable as possible on the avaiable stretchers, but pitifully little could be done, and several died of cold and exposure that night.
    Erskine The Scots Guards 1919-1955
    Monte Camino – The first battle, November 5th 1943
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    See also

     
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 8, 2020

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