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Hi all! I have just joined this site in an effort to find information on my great great grandfather. I am trying to research my family tree, and after locating this sit, hope it can assist me in finding out more information about him, that will lead me to his parents and beyond!

Charles James Ferguson enlisted in 1896 in the Staatsartillerie). In July 1899 he is listed as a gunner with the service number 647 serving as part of the garrison of Fort Schanskop, Pretoria. Most of the Fort Schanskop garrison proceeded to Natal under command of Lieutenant DU TOIT. In or about August 1900, Charles was arrested by the British military and deported to Ceylon as a prisoner-of-war. He was released in the latter part of 1902.

This is all I know of his military history and am hoping someone on this site may be able to assist me in learning more of him and his (my) family.

www.angloboerwar.com/forum/8-events/1221-war-came-to-natal

derwood67

Welcome to this forum.

There was a Trooper Ferguson of the Natal Police, who escaped capture by the Boers in one of their opening forays into Natal at the start of the war. This Ferguson was subsequently revealed to be a former member of the Staatsartillerie. The link given above includes a mention of Ferguson's escape and subsequent unmasking.

The Natal Policeman is likely to have been 1987 J S Ferguson, who enlisted on 10 September 1897. His real name was Lean.

Regards
Brett

Thanks for the information. I've had a look and it doesn't appear to be my relative. do you have any information on how I could go about getting his military records? I'm stuck trying to find any information on his parents, and was hoping his enlistment records (if they exist) may help. I did engage a genealogist in South Africa who provided me with the limited information I currently have, but after handing over more cash have never heard anything further from this person! Any assistance or information you could provide would be greatly appreciated!
Kind regards
Darin