John William Ferguson was born at Sunderland in 1905. He was married to Doris Ferguson and lived at Glen Rosa, Nelson Terrace, Sherburn, County Durham.
He went to sea as a cadet in SS Willesden joining at Cardiff in September 1925. He served in at least 11 ships before Deptford, the last three of which were SS Dulwich, SS Willesden and SS Beaconsfield. He joined Deptford as master on 16 August 1939.
John William Ferguson was killed as a result of enemy action, by reason of a torpedo attack carried out on SS Deptford from U-38. He was 34.
In 1940, his estate was valued at £1262 15s. 10d., about £99,310 today.