Plaque | War dead | WW1

Colyer-Fergusson - W1

Inscription

On this site stood the birthplace of Captain Thomas Riversdale Colyer-Fergusson, VC, awarded posthumously. Died at the Battle of Passchendaele, 31 July 1917, aged 21.
Westminster City Council
The Portman Estate

There must be many men who were awarded the VC, posthumously or not, whose birthplaces are not marked with a plaque. Why this one? His father inherited the baronetcy of Spitalhaugh.

From Westminter's approval of this plaque in 2017: "This nomination formed part of a wider programme to mark the Centenary of the First World War. The proposed unveiling of this Green Plaque formed one of a series of events to commemorate the Battle of Passchendaele, a campaign that was to last over three months between July and November and cost the lives of 325,000 Allied and 260,000 German soldiers."

Site: Colyer-Fergusson - W1 (1 memorial)

W1, Fitzhardinge Street, Orchard Court

This location/building has a second claim to fame, for which there is as yet (2020) no plaque.

The address of the substantial house on this corner was 13 Lower Berkeley Street. It was probably part of the Portman Square development in the 18th century. This 1914 map shows it still there. The History Press gives "Portman Square was first laid out for building in 1764 with houses designed by Robert Adam and James ‘Athenian’ Stuart. ... Most of the eighteenth-century buildings were swept away as part of building redevelopments in the 1920s and ’30s, including those on the eastern side {of Portman Square}, where Orchard Court now stands. It was designed by architectural firm Messrs Joseph and completed in 1929, with residents moving in during 1930. ... The flats within Orchard Court were used by the French or ‘F’ section {of The Special Operations Executive} (SOE head office was at 64 Baker Street). Here, new spies were recruited and later briefed before being taken into occupied France."

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the subjects commemorated on the memorial on this page:
Colyer-Fergusson - W1

Subjects commemorated i

Thomas Colyer-Fergusson, VC

Soldier. Born Thomas Riversdale Colyer-Fergusson a the site of the W1 plaque....

Read More

Nearby Memorials

Jack Nicholson - Elstree and Borehamwood Station

Jack Nicholson - Elstree and Borehamwood Station

WD6, Allum Lane, Station forecourt

The plaques are around the station forecourt, either on frames or laid into the pavement. The gold lettering on the marble effect on the ...

1 subject commemorated
RAF thanks from Denmark at St Clement Danes

RAF thanks from Denmark at St Clement Danes

WC2, Strand, St Clement Danes

These stones are laid in the ground to the right of the wreath that can be seen in our photograph. Left to right they are: Suez, Gang Sho...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Floods

Floods

SE18, Unity Way, Thames Barrier cafe

Commemorating the devastating floods of January 31st 1953. In memory of more than 2,100 lives lost in countries around the North Sea. T...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Charles Darwin

Charles Darwin

WC1, Gower Street, Darwin Building, UCL

Charles Darwin, 1809 - 1882, naturalist, lived in a house on this site, 1838 - 1842. London County Council

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Walter de la Mare - Mackenzie Road

Walter de la Mare - Mackenzie Road

BR3, Mackenzie Road, 195

In de la Mare's time this address was 6 Lynton Terrace.

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator

Previously viewed

Giuseppe Mazzini

Giuseppe Mazzini

Italian patriot. Born Genoa. Died Pisa. An exile in London for much of his life from 1837 onwards.  Byronico has information about 10 addresses where he lived in London. He often stayed near, or wi...

Person, Nationalism, Italy

4 memorials
Junius & John Morgan

Junius & John Morgan

SW7, Princes Gate, 14, Royal College of GPs

Kennedy plaque to the right, Morgan's to the left. The Royal College of General Practitioners has a good page on the history of 13-14. In...

2 subjects commemorated, 1 creator
Bhavana Krishnamoorthy

Bhavana Krishnamoorthy

Bhavana Krishnamoorthy was born on 29 January 1975. She was a PhD research student at University of London's School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) and was murdered, aged 29 years, on 29 Ap...

Person, Education, Tragedy, India

1 memorial