CQMS William C. Ferguson
Canadian Army Royal Canadian Regiment
Recently I returned from a farm in East Germany which in 1944 was a branch camp of Stalag IXC, Zweiglage, Wildetaube. This sub camp was for sick and injured POWs. Whilst there I had sight of a log book which was left behind by CQMS W C Ferguson who I believe was in the Royal Canadian Regiment. I am trying to trace the family as there is much in the log book which could be of immense interest to them. I am already in touch with the RCR who are trying to help.
Does anyone know of Bill Ferguson or his family.
I met these Germans concerned whilst on holiday in Madeira last January. They speak no English and were pleased to find an English person who could speak German and I promised to try to help. They invited me to stay for a few days.
As an amateur musician one page include bugle calls, the meaning of which must have escaped the German guards, interested me.
Below I give a list of most of them:-
- Smoke gets in your eyes: Cigarette issue
- They cut down the old pine tree: Forest party
- Quartermaster's stores: Food parcel issue
- Drink to me only with thine eyes: Beer issue
- Trees : Wood issue
- Pack up your troubles : Kit bags
- A hunting we will go : Delousing and kit search
- Bless 'em all : Room leaders
- Laurel and Hardy theme song: D.U.'s
- Home sweet home : Private parcels
- Oh you nasty man : G. Flow
- Come to the fair : Entertainments
- Gaumont British News : Prop. (Molsdorf)
- Shoe shine boy : Boots in (Molsdorf)
- Post horn gallop : Parcels at the station (Molsdorf)
- Let's put out the lights : 15 mins to lights out
- Be like the kettle and sing : Hot water issue
- Old King Cole : Coal issue?
- I cover the waterfront : Water (Molsdorf)
- Three blind mice : Eye cases for hospital (Molsdorf)
- Popeye the sailor : Spinach issue
- Volga boatman : Piano moving gang
- Take me to the ball game : Sport
- 15 men on a dead man's chest : Parcel carrying fatigue
- Here comes the man with the mandolin: Mandolin band
- Faith of our fathers : RC church
- Onward Christian soldiers : C. of E.
- Oh! Canada : Chain gang
- Tea for two : Tea issue
- Two lovely black eyes : Boxing
- A letter from lousy Lizzie : Mail
- Wagon wheels : : Unload wagon
- The love bug will bite you : M.O.'s inspection for lice
I am trying to trace relatives and/or friends of those who were in this small sub camp at Wildetaube near Greiz in East Germany in 1944.
I have the names of 15 who were there including some from the UK, US, Canada, New Zealand and Australia.
- Joe B Simpson, 40 Gilbert Street, New Plymouth, Taranaki, New Zealand
- Fred Wallace, Lloydminster, Alberta
- E B Sambridge, 70 the Crescent, South Tottenham, London N15
- Jack Dannatt, 12 Sloane Street, Mavickville, NSW
- J C Arnold, 265 Roundway, Tottenham, London N17
- Bruce G Hamilton, 1028 - 18th Ave. S., Nashville, Tenn.
- W R Evans. 48 Bland Street, Ashfield, Sydney, Australia
- E J Greenway, 46 Paradise Road, Clapham, London SW4
- Andy Skyme, Penshaw Villa, Blaina, Monmouthshire, England
- Norm Beaton, 9 Fisherfield, Port Skee, Isle of Skye
- Jim Oakley, c/o Mrs B Holt, 55 Park Close Road, Alton, Hants, England
- F J Collins, 126 Lollard Street, Kennington, London SE11
- S Watt, 36 Ainslie Place, Perth, Scotland
- Bill Weddell, 51 Winnington Road, Longfield Ave., Enfield, Middlesex, England
- H Heaton, 14 Poplar Grove, Westloughton, Bolton, Lancs.
Any help would be appreciated.
UPDATE:Bill Ferguson has been located. He is now 93 years of age and sounding hale and hearty on the telephone. One of John's letters was forwarded to him and he rang up very excitedly from California where he now lives. He, his son and the son's wife are coming to stay with us in Tunbridge Wells in April en route for East Germany to revisit the farm where he was released on 16 April 2005. The German TV company MDR is planning to make a 1/2 hour documentary including the official handover of the diary to him on 16 April, the 60th anniversary to the day, in Wildetaube.
Among the pages in the diary is a group photograph:
Bill Ferguson is third along from the left in the back row.
Daily Rations
The POWs seem to have given the guards a hard time when possible this is a note of warning dated 21.7.40.
