Ion Ferguson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ion Ferguson
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Ion Ferguson with RAF 30 Squadron, Greece 1941
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| Born |
Thomas Ion Victor Ferguson
1913 |
| Died | 1990 (aged 76–77) |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
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Branch
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Royal Army Medical Corps |
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Conflicts
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World War II |
| Spouse | Eileen May O'Brien |
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Thomas Ion Victor Ferguson, known as Ion Ferguson, was an Irish doctor. He joined the British army during World War II. He became famous for escaping from Colditz Castle, a high-security German prison camp.
Contents
Early Life and Family History
Ion Ferguson was born on April 21, 1913. His birthplace was Knockcloghrim in County Londonderry, Ireland. His parents were Ion Ferguson and Annie Victoria Makin Ferguson.
In 1939, World War II began. His family then moved to Whitworth, Lancashire, a small town in England. Ion Ferguson later married Eileen May O'Brien.
Serving in World War II
Ferguson joined the Royal Army Medical Corps. This group provides medical care for soldiers. He was part of RAF 30 Squadron. They were based in Eleusis, Greece, starting in November 1940.
His squadron helped defend Greece against Italian forces. Later, German forces invaded. The squadron had to move to Crete, then to Egypt.
Captured by German Forces
In 1941, Ion Ferguson was captured by the Germans. He became a prisoner of war (POW). He was held until the war ended in 1945.
He was first sent to a regular POW camp. But he often protested to the German authorities. He spoke up about how prisoners were treated. This led to him being moved to Colditz Castle.
Colditz Castle was a special prison. It was known for holding prisoners who had tried to escape. It also held those considered difficult.
Life and Escape Attempts at Colditz
While at Colditz, Ferguson was known for his strong will. He didn't like unfair treatment. Punch magazine described him as a "typical Irish rebel." They said he would not let Germans mistreat anyone without protesting.
Ferguson tried a clever trick to get moved from Colditz. He wrote a letter to a friend in Ireland. This friend was the son of Éamon de Valera. De Valera was the leader of Ireland at the time. In the letter, Ferguson asked Ireland to join the Allies in the war.
As he hoped, German censors stopped the letter. They saw it as a problem. So, they moved him to a different prison camp, Stalag IV-D.
At Stalag IV-D, Ferguson continued to help others. He coached two RAF prisoners. He taught them how to pretend they had a mental illness. This made the Germans believe they were too sick to be prisoners. As a result, these two prisoners were sent back home. Ferguson hoped to be sent home the same way.
Later Life and Legacy
After the war, Ferguson wrote a book. It was called Doctor at War (1957). The book shared his experiences during the war.
Ion Ferguson passed away in 1990. He was 77 years old. His funeral was held in Rochdale, Lancashire.
