Thomas Ferguson was born in Flint, Flintshire on 30th November 1888.
The 1891 Census tells us that the family lived at 26 Castle Street, Flint. The head of the family was Thomas Ferguson aged 32, who was employed as a Chemical Worker at United Alkali, formally Muspratt Chemical Works, Flint. His wife was Alice Ferguson aged 31 and their four listed children were Ellen Ferguson aged 5, Julia Ferguson aged 5 (twin sisters), Thomas Ferguson aged 2 and Mary Alice Ferguson aged 7 months.
The 1901 Census shows that the family lived at 35 Castle Street, Flint. The head of the family Thomas Ferguson aged 42 was a Widower, his wife Alice having died in 1900 aged 41. There was, however, one additional member of the family, Lawrence Ferguson who was 8 years old.
Thomas junior married at some stage and lived with his wife at Pentre Bach, Bagillt.
Thomas enlisted as a Private with the Royal Welsh Fusiliers in August 1914 at The Drill Hall, Flint. His brother Lawrence also enlisted with the same Battalion, but he survived the war.
Flintshire Observer Thursday 10 June 1915 Headed – Died the Death of a Hero. The Spirit of a Bagillt Bay. Mrs Ferguson of Pentre Bach, Bagillt, widow of Private Thomas Ferguson, 1st Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers has received a sympathetic letter from Private Lawrence Ferguson, the deceased’s brother, who was in the same Regiment. Private Lawrence says that he is in the pink of condition. ‘My dear brother he adds died fighting for his King and Country, and moreover I am pleased to say that he died the death of a hero. It so happened that on the Sunday morning my Regiment was ordered to take up positions and make an attack upon the enemy, which we did in gallant style, driving the German devils hell for leather from trench to trench and showing no quarter. The boys of the 1st Royal Welsh Fusiliers have left their mark on that portion of the enemy in that never to be forgotten charge. I am pleased to say I came out of that charge myself without a scratch, and I am now prepared for the next. The more we strike the quicker the end. It is all in a good cause. My Regiment suffered heavy losses but the gain was great’.
On 28th April 1916 a payment of £4.12s.9p was made by the War Office to the Ferguson family as follows:- (1) £1.3s.2d to Mrs Ellen Commins (sister). (2) £1.3s.2d to Mary Alice Ferguson (sister). (3) £1.3s.3d to Lawrence Ferguson (brother). This being monies owed to their brother Thomas Ferguson. On 24 July 1919, a further payment which was recorded as a War Gratuity of £3.0s.0d was also made as follows:- (1) £2.5s.0d to Mrs Ellen Commins (sister) (2) 15 shillings to Thomas Campbell (brother-in-law).
He is also remembered on the Flint Town war memorial, (follow the link for further details), St Mary’s Parish Church, Bagillt and the North Wales Heroes Memorial Arch, Deiniol Road, Bangor, North Wales.
There is no Flintshire Roll of Honour Card for Thomas Ferguson at the County Archives Office, Hawarden. Details of his medals were obtained from Ancestry.co.uk
