Thomas Riversdale. COLYER- Fergusson
Captain, 2nd Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment
- Register No.
- 399 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Captain (register: Acting Captain) all Captains →
- Unit
- 2nd Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment all Northamptonshire Regiment VCs →
- Date of action
- 31 July 1917 on this day → all of 1917 →
- Conflict / campaign
- First World War
- London Gazette
- 6th September, 1917 on this day → all of 1917 →
- Born
- 18th February, 1896 at Ightham, Kent
- Died
- 31st July, 1917 at Bellewaarde, Belgium. (killed in action)
- Award
- Posthumous all posthumous VCs →
- Memorial / grave
- Menin Road South Military Cemetery, Belgium, Ightham Parish Church and on the Ightham War Memorial, Kent
Digest of citation
On 31st July, 1917 at Bellewaarde, Belgium, Captain Colyer-Fergusson unexpectedly found himself with a sergeant and five men only. He carried out the planned attack nevertheless and succeeded in capturing the enemy trench. During an enemy counter-attack, assisted only by his orderly, he attacked and captured an enemy machine-gun, turning it on the assailants. Later, assisted only by his sergeant, he again attacked and captured a second enemy machine gun, but shortly afterwards he was killed by a sniper
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
FERGUSSON, Thomas Riversdale. COLYER-. (reg No. 399).
Captain. 2nd Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment.
London Gazetted on 6th September, 1917.
Born on 18th February, 1896 at Ightham, Kent.
Died on 31st July, 1917 at Bellewaarde, Belgium. (killed in action).
Memorial at Menin Road South Military Cemetery, Belgium, Ightham Parish Church and on the Ightham War Memorial, Kent.
Digest of Citation reads: On 31st July, 1917 at Bellewaarde, Belgium, Captain Colyer-Fergusson unexpectedly found himself with a sergeant and five men only. He carried out the planned attack nevertheless and succeeded in capturing the enemy trench. During an enemy counter-attack, assisted only by his orderly, he attacked and captured an enemy machine-gun, turning it on the assailants. Later, assisted only by his sergeant, he again attacked and captured a second enemy machine gun, but shortly afterwards he was killed by a sniper.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: Menin Road South Military Cemetery, Belgium, Ightham Parish Church and on the Ightham War Memorial, Kent
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