| Place | Africa: North Africa, Western Desert, Western Desert (Egypt), El Alamein Area, El Miteiriya |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | REL33811.001 |
| Collection type | Heraldry |
| Object type | Medal |
| Physical description | Bronze |
| Maker |
Unknown |
| Place made | United Kingdom |
| Date made | c 1946 |
| Conflict |
Second World War, 1939-1945 |
1939-45 Star : Private L P Ferguson, 2/28th Battalion, AIF
Description
1939-45 Star. Impressed on reverse with recipient's details.
History / Summary
Associated with the service of WX10033 Private L P Ferguson, 2/28th Battalion, AIF. Lloyd Perston Ferguson was born in Glasgow, Scotland in December 1918. He was working in the hospitality industry when he enlisted in the Second AIF in December 1940.
Ferguson embarked on 9 September 1941 from Fremantle, WA and sailed with the Convoy US12A for service in the Middle East. He was promoted to corporal on 26 November 1941, but reverted to the rank of private at his own request a few months later. Private Ferguson was serving with the 2/28th Battalion when it went into action at the Battle of El Alamein on 24 July 1942. Just after midnight that day, the 2/28th attacked and gained the feature called Ruin Ridge, but after hours of heavy fighting the battalion was surrounded, and by 10 am was overrun and forced to surrender.
Private Ferguson was wounded during the battle and like most of his battalion, became a prisoner of war (POW). Initially reported as missing in action, Ferguson was confirmed as a POW on 8 September. After undergoing treatment for his wounds in Bari and Udine hospitals in Italy, Ferguson spent time in various POW camps in Italy and Austria; Camp 57 (eight months), Camp 106 (five months) and Stalag XVIIB (19 months). With the end of the war in Europe, Private Ferguson was repatriated, and returned to Australia in July 1945. He was discharged from the Second AIF on 8 September 1945.