John Reginald Ferguson (1923)

Born 31 Oct 1923 in Footscray, Victoria, Australia

Ancestors

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Biography

John Reginald Ferguson was born on 31st October 1923 in Footscray, Victoria, Australia. He was the only son of Nelson Ferguson, a returned serviceman, and Maddie Hobbs. In 1927 the family moved into their own home at 6 Karma Avenue, Malvern East. ^[1]

He was Dux of Dandenong High School in his final year first in art. He obtained an apprenticeship as a Technical School Teacher. ^[1]

John Ferguson is a Military Veteran.
Served in the Australian Commonwealth Military Force 1941-1946
Militia; Headquarters 2nd Australian Corps

John paraded at Armadale, Victoria on 16th December 1941 and completed his Mobilisation Attestation Form. On 18th February 1943, having completed his three months compulsory military training, John enlisted in the Second Australian Imperial Force, his nation's all-volunteer expeditionary force for the Second World War. He listed his First World War veteran father as his next-of-kin. ^[2] After further training, he was posted to Papua in late 1943 with the rank of Corporal. Although the immediate threat of Japanese invasion had been quelled at Milne Bay, Kokoda, the Papuan Northern Beaches and Guadalcanal, he would serve two and a half years overseas on active duty. His final posting, in the senior non-commissioned rank of Sergeant, was to Headquarters 2nd Australian Corps. He was demobilised on 25th January 1946. ^[2] For his war service he was awarded the 1939-1945 Star, Pacific Star, Defence Medal, War Medal 1939-1945 and Australia Service Medal 1939-1945.

As had his father following his war, John was placed in education as part of his transition from military to civilian life – art instructor classes at Melbourne technical College under his father! In 1947, John and his war-time cobber (and soon his sister Meg's husband), Nick Papas, also an artist, were hired by Brooks, Robinson & Co, a leading Melbourne stained glass window manufacturer; John in window design and Nick in window-making. ^[1]

John and his wife, Nancy, were involved in a serious car accident in 1990; the injuries forcing John to discontinue designing and making stained glass windows. By then, his mate and brother-in-law Nick had retired and he was joined in the business by his sons, Peter and Andrew. Peter and Andrew subsequently took over the business, continuing to this day. One of their windows is installed in St John the Evangelist Church, Soldier's Hill, Ballarat; with the words 'I was blind, but now I see'. ^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3} Farrands, Don. The Glass Soldier. Big Sky Publishing, Newport NSW, 2017. ISBN 978-19255-20538
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Department of Veterans' Affairs nominal roll: VX130447 (V156005) Sergeant John Ferguson; accessed 25 Dec 2022

See also

• Farrands, Don. The Glass Soldier. Big Sky Publishing, Newport NSW, 2017. ISBN 978-19255-20538.