Dates:
War Service:
He served as Sergeant 908615 in 118 Field Regiment, Royal Artillery. 118 Field Regiment was formed in 1939 as the second line regiment to 65 (8th London) Field Regiment (TA) to accommodate the large number of South Londoners (many from Lewisham) who wished to enlist.On the outbreak of war the 65th went on active service while the 118th went to Woolwich to release the regular garrison. Eventually 118 Field Regiment joined 18th (East Anglian) Division which arrived in the Far East just in time to take part in the final week’s battle for Singapore.
Contact the Local History and Archives Centre for more information on Regiment and service.
He was captured after the surrender of Singapore on 15 February 1942 and died as a prisoner of the Japanese on 12 September 1944. Nearly 300 men of the 118th Regiment died in captivity.
He has no known grave and is commemorated on Column 5 of the Singapore Memorial.
Location of Memorial:
He is remembered on the memorial to the 118 Field Regiment (TA) memorial at Grove Park. In 2007 an oak tree was planted in memory of the unit and its dead in Lewisham War Memorial Gardens.
Details:
He was born in 1920 in Greenwich, the son of Mr and Mrs J Johnson. He was the husband of E S Johnson of Penge. He was employed by the Metropolitan Police as a gardener at Hendon police college and his name is inscribed on the Roll of Honour in the front entrance to New Scotland Yard.
Source:
Contributed By: Andy Pepper
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