True and Fascinating Canadian History

Ferguson

Vet of the Month: November 2010

Reg.#5905, Constable Amos Gordon Ferguson, WWI. M.M.

by J. J. Healy
RCMP Vets. Ottawa, ON

RCMPVetsCrest

This short story required some team support. The photo of A. G. Ferguson was kindly provided by BC Veteran Sheldon Boles while the idea for story of our Veteran of the Month was provided through the kindness of Historian Jack White. Our Veteran of the Month is Cst. Amos Gordon Ferguson, M.M.rcmp crestRIP

Constable Amos Gordon Ferguson was born in Ontario, and in 1909 he moved to British Columbia. At first, he worked in various BC logging camps and on August 22, 1914 he joined the RNWMP. About a year later, he quit the Force to join the Lord Strathcona's Horse Regiment, Canadian Expeditionary Force (C. E. F.) for service in World War I. During the war, Amos Ferguson was wounded twice and afterwards he was awarded the Military Medal.

On return to Canada from overseas in April, 1919, Ferguson rejoined the RNWMP and he served in Alberta and, by 1922, he had attained the rank of Sergeant.

Unfortunately, Amos Ferguson's police career suddently ended on March 8, 1922. He was charged in Service Court with rendering false and misleading reports to his Officer Commanding respecting an investigation. As a result of his indiscretion, Ferguson was fined $30.00, demoted to the rank of constable and ordered dismissed from the Force. He realized that it made little difference to appeal the matter and in the end, Ferguson was dismissed from the Force. It was August 7, 1922.

Ferguson

A. G. Ferguson moved to the west coast where he joined the Vancouver Harbour Police, and in 1932, he accepted a transfer to the BC Provincial Jail Service. He worked at Oakalla Prison Farm in Burnaby, BC until his full retirement in 1955.

Amos Ferguson was a Life Member of the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 6, Cloverdale, BC. In 1951, he and his wife, Martha, purchased a substantial piece of property (just above today's Guildford Golf Course) at 152nd St. and 82nd Avenue in Surrey, BC. The property soon became a gathering place for their many friends. The Ferguson's very creative and welcoming motto was, "Come Early and Stay Late".

At one of the Ferguson social gatherings, it was decided to hold an Annual Reunion for members of the Lord Strathcona's Horse Regiment. The Fergusons decided to plant a Memorial Tree on the property to provide a final resting place for the ashes of former Cavalry members and their wives.

Today, an Annual Memorial Service is held by the Royal Canadian Legion. The Ferguson's donated their property to the Royal Canadian Legion with the request that it be used for low rental senior citizen housing. Zone 7 of the Pacific Command, Royal Canadian Legion pooled assets and erected a fifty-one suite manor with the help of Canadian Mortgage and Housing.

Members of the Canadian Legion have first chance at 75% of the rental suites and the remaining 25% are for low income seniors in exchange for 33% of their pension income.

Ferguson

The original Memorial Tree had to be moved to accommodate the Manor and it was transplanted to the west side at the south end of a mini-parade ground. Constable Ferguson died in 1982 and his ashes rest at the base of the Memorial Tree. A. G. Ferguson was a forgiving person with a big heart. The transgression which caused A. G. Ferguson to be dismissed from the Force never affected his generousity towards others. And it is for this reason that A. G. Ferguson is so well remembered.

Ferguson Manor, 152nd Street, Surrey, B.C. is named in memory of Reg.#5905 Constable Amos Gordon Ferguson, M.M., RNWMP and RCMP. We take time this month to tip our Stetson to Cst. Amos Gordon Ferguson, M.M. of the RNWMP and RCMP! Thank you Amos for leaving us with a memorable story.

Reporting from Fort Healy,

J. J. Healy
November 23, 2010

Ferguson


^To Top



RCMP