The reason I have joined is that my Grandfather died earlier this week at the age of 97. He was Major Irving Henry Fergusson-Edgar who was commissioned into the Devonshire Regiment on the 8th of April 1938. I want to get to know a little more about the places he served and the unit he served with. We were not particularly close as a family and as a result I know very little of his service. I do know that he served in Malta, Egypt, was wounded at Anzio, served back in the UK, Greece, Eritrea, Libya, Cyprus, West Germany and finally Malta. He then took an RO post at RAF Cranwell. I am from a military family. His father served as a territorial soldier ( a Piper I believe ) in the London Scottish in WW1. His son in law ( my father ) served as an officer in the Royal Signals for over 25 years. I was also a TA soldier ( Cpl Royal Signals ) in SW London (31 Signal Regiment) for 8 years. I will start looking through the various threads for information on his unit and their background. Hope I post questions in the right places. Thanks, Chris (TeleOpTG)
Condolences for the loss of your Grandfather . Welcome to the forum. I hope we can help you out with your research.
Thanks Owen. I will try to get some more information on him over the next few months. Cheers, TeleOpTG
Welome to the forum,TeleOpTG. Condolences. Have you or another family member got your Grandfather's service records? Here is the London Gazette entry showing him joining the Devonshire Regiment as a 2nd Lieutenant from 9 April 1938: https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34500/page/2332
Welcome to the forum Just checking - has anyone in the family applied for a copy of your grandfather's service records? From London Gazette 8 APRIL, 1938 https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34500/page/2332/data.pdf The undermentioned to be 2nd Lts. 9th Apr. 1938:— Devon R.— Irving Henry Fergusson EDGAR. 18th JANUARY, 1946 https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37434/supplement/511/data.pdf Devon R. - 2nd Lt. (War Subs. Lt.) Irving Henry Ferguson EDGAR (75043) from Supp. Res. of Offrs., to be Lt., 19th Jan. 1946, with seniority 10th June 1942. 24th JANUARY, 1947 https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37862/supplement/449/data.pdf Devon R. Lt. I. H. F. EDGAR (75043) to be Capt., 10th Dec. 1946. 11 DECEMBER, 1953 https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/40039/supplement/6725/data.pdf Devon. Capt. I. H. F. EDGAR (75043) to be Maj., 10th Dec. 1953. 21st JANUARY 1975 https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/46469/supplement/853/data.pdf PRINCE OF WALES's DIVISION REGULAR ARMY Maj. I. H. FERGUSON-EDGAR, E.R.D. (75043) D. & D. retires on retired pay, 10th Dec. 1974.
Cheers....seen the first Gazette listing but not the others. How do I go about getting hold of his service records? TeleOpTG
Hi Chris. I was googling your grandad I think and found you. I went to my local auctioneers in Grantham and bought some pictures. Two I think are from your grandads collection. There is a messsge on the back. I was wanting information as I'm advertising the pictures. That's why I came across you. Sorry don't know anything more about him though Regards Jo
A long time since I updated. But as we have time now .... Jo those pictures were part of the estate that my mother auctioned off. More of a story here and a request for help. Sadly, before my Grandfather died he had been visited over many years by a group of disreputable men ( I use that term very loosely) some of whom gained notoriety in the Lincolnshire area for scamming and an involvement in modern day slavery ....their surnames were the same as an ex Everton player .... it culminated with a group of 4 of them forcing their way into his house and robbing him. 3 of them got ridiculously pathetic sentences for this. He lost his medals from his military service during this robbery. Not the miniatures thankfully. my mother did organise replacements for some of them .... How do I go about trying to replace a missing France and Germany Star, Army Emergency Reserve Decoration and the Malta George Cross Fiftieth Anniversary medal? Next question .... any idea how I try to trace where his original medals might be? He also lost a Defence Medal and War Medal from my Granny who served in the ATS. To make matters worse they stole his fathers Victory Medal and ribbons from the British War Medal and 1914-15 star have gone along with his Silver Wound Badge. More was taken .... jewellery and cash ....but I am so angry about the medals. The lockdown and VE Day gave me the chance to dig out the medals that were left .... I just want to try and get the original back to mount with his fathers. Probably a silly idea .... but a whole generation did so much for us .... yet what do some do in return! Any ideas or help on searching would be appreciated. Thanks!
I am not aware that any Devonshire Regiment battalions were at Anzio so he must have been seconded to another Regiment at the time. Regards Frank
