Annie Mae Ferguson (1890-1976) was a registered nurse who served as a Nursing Sister with the Canadian Army Medical Corps (CAMC) during the First World War.
One of 10 siblings, she was the daughter of Nora (nee Stapleton) Ferguson and Walkerton’s first police chief, Robert Buchanan Ferguson. Chief Ferguson had many (many!) duties, one of which was groundskeeper for Victoria Jubilee Hall. The upper floors of the building served as a home for the Ferguson family since Annie was about 14 years old.
From Ballantyne to Bluebird
In 1913, Annie left home to attend the nursing school at Stratford General Hospital. During her time there, she stayed at the Ballantyne Nurses’ Residence with her classmates. She graduated as the gold medalist of her class on December 5th, 1916. The very next day, she received notice of her acceptance into the CAMC. And within a week, she reported to the Military Hospital in London, ON to begin her service as a Nursing Sister.
After several months at the Military Hospital, Annie boarded a ship for England in May of 1917. During her nearly 2 years overseas, she nursed at Granville Special (orthopedic) Hospital in Ramsgate, Canadian Military Hospital in Basingstoke, 10th Canadian General Hospital (formerly Kitchener Military Hospital) in Brighton, and 4th Canadian General Hospital in Basingstoke.
Sister & Nurse
In addition to being a dedicated nurse, Annie was a devoted sister. She was the fourth of her siblings to enlist, preceded by three brothers: Sergeant Robert (Bob) Ferguson; Private John (“Jack”) Ferguson; and Private Archibald (“Archie) Ferguson. Barely a month after arriving in England, Annie made sure to visit the camp where the Bruce Battalion was stationed, eager to see Jack and Archie. The love shared between the siblings is evident in the newspaper reports and letters we have access to.
In October of 1918, Bob was seriously wounded during battle and had undergo multiple major surgeries. When Annie received the news, she immediately took 2 weeks of leave to be at her brother’s bedside. In a letter to her parents, she writes: “He will have to have an operation […] in England, so I am going back with him and am trying to have him sent to Brighton so that I can be near him all the time.”
Moreover, Annie said “the happiest day in her life” was the day she got word that her little brother Archie was alive in a German POW camp – nearly 3 months after he had been reported missing. After they were back home in Canada, she accompanied Archie to the Orthopedic Hospital in Toronto, to be present for an operation on his leg.
Home Sweet Home
On February 23rd, 1919 Annie was among four nurses and over 3000 soldiers to set sail from Liverpool to Halifax. After a short visit with her parents in Walkerton, Annie was posted for duty with the Western Ontario Military Hospital in London, ON, from March 18 to June 30, 1919. She then went on to work at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, for some time during 1919 and 2020.
In 1921, Annie married Frederick Stone Arkell and moved to the Arkell family farm in Teeswater. Together they had one child: a daughter, Jane.
Sources:
- BCM&CC Archives: “Walkerton Telescope, November 7, 1918 – Had Leg Amputated”, page 202 in Letters from Overseas: Bruce County and the First World War (2019). Compiled by J.C Kelly. Edited by Cathy Siekierko.
- Bruce County Genealogical Society: Obituary, “Rose Ella Annie Mae Arkell”.
- Bruce Remembers, Annie Mae Ferguson.
- Canadian Great War Project (CGWP): “CAMC” Overseas Hospitals”.
- Library & Archives Canada: CAMC Service File for Annie Mae Ferguson.
- Library & Archives Canada: CEF Service File for Robert Arthur Ferguson.
- Stratford-Perth Arhives: Vernon’s City of Stratford Directory, 1915, page 93.
Bruce County Historic Newspapers:
- “Won Gold Medal”, The Walkerton Telescope, December 7, 1916.
- “Nurse Going Overseas”, The Walkerton Telescope, December 14, 1917.
- “Leaving for Overseas”, The Walkerton Telescope, May 3, 1917.
- “Landed in England”, The Walkerton Telescope, June 28, 1917.
- “Visited Wittley Camp,” The Walkerton Telescope, July 5, 1917.
- “A Belated Message”, The Walkerton Telescope, October 24, 1918.
- “Private Archie Ferguson”, The Walkerton Telescope, December 26, 1918.
- “Nurse Ferguson Home”, The Walkerton Telescope, March 6, 1919.
- “Sgt. Ferguson M.M.”, The Walkerton Telescope, May 15, 1919.
- “Undergoing Operation”, The Walkerton Telescope, July 31, 1919.
- “Walkerton Boys and Girls”, The Walkerton Telescope, November 6, 1919.
- “Local Paragraphs”, The Kincardine Reporter, March 25, 1920.
- “Death of Mrs. Ferguson”, The Walkerton Telescope, July 1o, 1924.
Slider Photographs:
- Superintendent Elizabeth McArthur with Annie Ferguson (very back) and three other Stratford General Hospital students who became Nursing Sisters. Photo courtesy of Stratford General Hospital Archives.
- Group photo of nurses in training at the Stratford General Hospital in 1914. Annie is third from the right, in the back row. Photo courtesy of Stratford General Hospital Archives.
- Nurse’s apron that belonged to Annie Mae Ferguson, BCM&CC Collection 2025.012.002a/b. It is pictured with the blue Nursing Sister uniform and leather belt (2025.012.001a-f).
- Nursing Sister uniform that belonged to Annie Mae Ferguson[detail]. BCM&CC Collection, 2025.012.001a-f.
- Nursing Sister dress uniform that belonged Annie Mae Ferguson. BCM&CC Collection, 2025.012.004.
