VX23 Maurice Alfred 'Ant Eater' Fergusson
VX23 Maurice Alfred 'Ant Eater' Fergusson
| Date of birth | 1895-12-05 | Melbourne VIC |
| WW1 Service 3 | 1915-03-08 | BDR |
| WW1 Service 4 | 1915-04-04 | Joined MEF |
| WW1 Service 1 | 1915-08-24 | Enlisted AIF |
| Date and unit at enlinstment (ORs) | 1915-08-24 | |
| WW1 Service 5 | 1916-08-09 | 4 DIV Ammn Column |
| WW1 Service 6 | 1916-08-18 | 10 Fd Artillery Brigade |
| WW1 Service 7 | 1916-12-15 | 2lieutenant |
| Date commissioned | 1916-12-15 | |
| WW1 Service 8 | 1917-01-21 | 4DivisionAmmn Column |
| WW1 Service 9 | 1917-02-21 | 10th Fd Artillery Brigade |
| WW1 Service 10 | 1917-05-14 | lieutenant |
| WW1 Service 11 | 1917-06-07 | wounded in action Shell/shrapnel wound |
| WW1 Service 12 | 1917-08-18 | 4DivisionAmmn Column |
| WW1 Service 13 | 1917-09-20 | Staff lieutenant |
| WW1 Service 14 | 1917-10-13 | 4DivisionArtillery Headquarters |
| WW1 Service 15 | 1918-04-18 | Mention in Despatches (26 Feb-20 Sep 17) |
| WW1 Service 16 | 1918-07-01 | 10 Fd Artillery Brigade |
| WW1 Service 17 | 1918-10-18 | Military Cross |
| WW1 Service 18 | 1918-12-09 | Returned to Australia |
| WW1 Service 19 | 1919-05-23 | Bar to Military Cross |
| Interwar Service 2 | 1939-02 | major 8Light Horseregiment in |
| Interwar Service 3 | 1939-06-10 | lieutenant colonel commanding officer 8 Light Horse |
| Career summary 1 | 1939-10-13 - 1941-03-10 | appointed lieutenant colonel commanding officer 2AIF Recce regiment (later 6DivisionCav) |
| Career summary 2 | 1939-10-19 | EN 2AIF |
| Career summary 3 | 1940-02-13 | arrived Middle East |
| Career summary 4 | 1941-03-10 | wounded in action gun shot wound Chest |
| Career summary 5 | 1941-06-22 | RTA- unfit (Melbourne) |
| Career summary 6 | 1941-07-19 | Mention in Despatches |
| Career summary 7 | 1941-09-15 | attachedHeadquarters 2 CavDivision |
| Career summary 8 | 1941-11-22 | arrived Middle East |
| Career summary 9 | 1942-01-15 - 1942-03-07 | appointed commanding officer 2/17th battalion |
| Appointment | 1942-01-19 - 1942-03-07 | Battalion: 2/17th; Rank on appointment: lieutenant COL; Appointed from: 6 AustralianDivisionCav regiment; Reason for end of appointment: promotion field command: 2 Australian Armoured Brigade |
| Career summary 11 | 1942-03-07 | relinquished command 2/17th battalion RECtoA |
| Career summary 12 | 1942-04-06 | temporary brigadier |
| Career summary 13 | 1942-04-14 | Companion of the Distinguished Service Order |
| Career summary 14 | 1942-04-23 | appointed command 2 armoured Brigade |
| Career summary 15 | 1942-05-23 | Returned to Australia (SA) |
| Career summary 20 | 1942-09-01 | colonel (retain rank of temporary BRIG) 12 Oct 44 (bd |
| Career summary 16 | 1944-01-21 | appointed command 2nd Infantry Brigade |
| Career summary 17 | 1944-07-11 | ED |
| Career summary 18 | 1944-08-18 | appointed command 8th Infantry Brigade |
| Career summary 19 | 1944-08-27 | arrived Nadzab |
| Career summary 21 | 1945-10-07 | Returned to Australia (Brisbane) |
| Career summary 22 | 1945-10-10 | relinquished command 8th Infantry Brigade |
| Career summary 23 | 1945-10-16 | Reserve of Officers colonel (H/BRIG) |
| Career summary 24 | 1946-02-28 | Mention in Despatches |
| Career summary 26 | -bh p. 80 | |
| Interwar Service 1 | captain and major with militia arty | |
| Served | 1914-1918 Command: ; Service: Gallipoli, Western Front | |
| Career summary 25 | Later promoted to Brig commanding 2 Australian armoured Brigade and 8 Australian Infantry Brigade | |
| WW2 Service 1 | New Guinea | |
| WW1 Service 2 | 334 gunner 3 Bty 1 Brigade Australian Field Artillery | |
| Citations 2 | 'On the formation of 6 Aust. Div. Cav. Regt. on 13.10.39, Lt-Col. Fergusson was appointed its Commanding Officer and his ability came to notice very early by the manner in which he organized this unit of a new arm. In the Libyan campaign, he proved himself and able and inspiring leader and when he was seriously wounded at Giarabub it was feared that the A.I.F. would lose a very promising senior officer. Recent advices from Australia show, however, that Lt.-Col. Fergusson is returning to duty in the Middle East. Lt-Col. Fergussonhas shown himselff to be a leader of outstanding ability with a profound sense of duty and a determination to overcome all difficulties.' | |
| Career summary 10 | Middle East Tactical School (senior Offr) 16 Feb-21 Feb 42, send back to unit because TAB said he had enough experience, what was needed was time with his bn. | |
| Date of death | 1975-09-27 |
Occupation: Branch Manager Pastoral Company. CO 6th Divisional Cavalry Regiment.
