William George Ferguson was born in Sebastapol and was a Farrier by trade when he enlisted in the 14th Battalion, 12th Reinforcement on 9 August 1915 at the age of 34. His unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A40 Ceramic on 23 November 1915. He sailed to Egypt, and while there in February 1916, he was transferred to the 8th Light Horse Regiment as a shoeing smith. He was initially based at Serapeum on the Suez Canal but served at several locations in Egypt. He was frequently troubled by illness, particularly gastritis, through 1916 and 1917. In March 1918 he was again hospitalised, with arterio-sclerosis being diagnosed. He was assessed as permanently unfit for further active service and was returned to Australia on the Port Darwin. He disembarked at Melbourne on August 17th 1918 and was discharged soon after as æmedically unfit – arterio-sclerosis, gastritis'.
Tree No 1879