Major Bill Ferguson
Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders

Hugh Young, the brigadier, had assured me that I’d have Ferguson for three months, at least three months in action, guaranteed … This guy, Hugh Young, had salted away as brigade major my 2 i/c. Three months in action? To hell with it, two days in action!

(Ross interview, 20 July 1979)

Born on 19 April 1916 in Mortlach, Saskatchewan, Clarence William Ferguson was an insurance agent in Winnipeg, commissioned as a lieutenant with mobilization in September 1939. He went overseas in March 1940 to attend the war staff college at Camberley, England. Now a captain, he returned to Canada for further staff training at the Royal Military College in summer 1942. While back home he married the daughter of former Cameron commanding officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Hugh Mackenzie. Ferguson reverted from the rank of major to go back overseas in December 1943.

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