Coin holder : Private A L Ferguson, 18 Battalion AIF

Places
Accession Number REL38971
Collection type Heraldry
Object type Heraldry
Physical description Silver
Maker Unknown
Place made United Kingdom: England, Greater London, London
Date made c 1916
Conflict First World War, 1914-1918
Description

Silver coin holder containing one 1890 sixpence, one 1918 sixpence and one Belgian 5 centimes coin. The exterior of the silver coin holder is designed to resemble a small fob or pocket watch. The front of the coin holder is engraved with a swirling cross-hatch pattern background with a heraldic design in the centre. The reverse of the cover is also engraved with a swirling cross-hatch pattern with a small circle and another circle within located in the centre. On top of the cover is the push button access to the inside of the coin holder. A ring has been attached to the button's stem to which a chain or lanyard could be attached. Inside the coin holder is a horse shoe shaped holder for the coins.

History / Summary

Associated with the service of 6070 Private Archibald Leslie Ferguson, who was born in Goulburn, NSW on 2 June 1888. Ferguson enlisted in the town of Wingello, NSW on 14 August 1916 . He initially joined 2 Battalion but transferred to 18 Battalion on 12 September 1916. He embarked from Sydney with 17 reinforcements of 18 Battalion on 25 October in HMAT Ascanius and arrived in Devonport, England on 28 December. Ferguson was admitted to hospital on 4 January 1917 with a broken leg. He spent several months recovering before being moved to 5 Training Battalion on 20 April. On 9 July, he proceeded overseas to France where he was taken on strength of 18 Battalion who were in camp at Bapaume. In Early September, the battalion moved to Belgium to prepare for their role in the fighting around Menin Road. On 20 September, the battalion moved off from Bellewaarde Ridge to their attack positions on Westhoek ridge. The battalion attacked at 5:40 am and were caught in a heavy German barrage causing many casualties. Ferguson received a shrapnel wound to his left hip and over the next two weeks was moved to England to recover. He returned to France and rejoined his battalion who were now in rest positions near Lumbres in France on 13 February 1918. Ferguson next saw action when the German Army launched its spring offensive on the Western Front. The battalion went into action near Villers Brettoneux in early April and moved to positions in Hangard Wood on 13 April. Ferguson was wounded for the second time on 15 April when he received gunshot wounds to his head and back. After hospitalisation and recovery in Rouen, he returned to duty on 6 May. Early on the morning of 29 May, the battalion was in the lines near Ville Sur Ancre and came under a sustained bombardment. The Germans fired mustard gas and high explosive shells into the line causing several casualties. Ferguson and several other men were badly gassed and evacuated. Ferguson was evacuated to England to recover, but due to the severity of his gassing, was unable to rejoin his unit. He returned to Australia on 19 October, arriving home on 27 December. He was still suffering the effects from the mustard gas and was hospitalised in Sydney for two more years. He was finally discharged from the AIF on 18 December 1920.