Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 20003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 430

Five: Major J. B. Ferguson, Royal Australian Army Medical Corps, late Royal Army Medical Corps, a specialist in the study of tuberculosis

British War and Victory Medals (Capt. J. B. Ferguson.); War Medal 1939-45; Australian Service Medal 1939-45, both officially impressed 'J. B. Ferguson'; Jubilee 1935, good very fine (5)

John Bell Ferguson was born in Scotland in 1888 and qualified as Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery in 1909, before being DPH at Manchester in 1910. Commissioned Lieutenant in the Royal Army Medical Corps on 7 November 1916 and served in France from 27 November 1916. Promoted Captain by war's end, he commanded No. 19 Mobile Bacteriology Laboratory in France and Belgium.

Gaining Membership of the Royal Colleges of Physicians in 1927, that same year he went to Australia to take up the position as Director of Tuberculosis for Victoria. He was latterly appointed as Tuberculosis Officer at the Royal Melbourne Hospital. Re-commissioned into the Royal Australian Army Medical Corps, he began the War overseeing the examination of recruits, finding that 1 in 200 had signs of active TB lesions. Ferguson also saw service with the 2/33rd Australian Infantry Battalion.

Post-war, he played a key role in the Commonwealth-State Tuberculosis Agreement and was its full-time Director. He retired in 1950 and returned to his two joys, keeping prize winning cocker spaniels and sailing from the Royal Victorian Yacht Club. He died on 7 February 1971; sold together with box and named certificate for the Second War awards, besides copied photographs and research.

Subject to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium. For more information please view Terms and Conditions for Buyers.

Sold for
£170

Starting price
£110