Dates:
(1890 - 1917)
Local Connection: Attended St Dunstan’s School, Catford
War Service:
Second Lieutenant. 73rd Field Company. Royal Engineers. He was commissioned into the Royal Engineers from London University Officer's Training Corps in 1914. His VC appeared in the London Gazette on 18th November 1915. After the award of the VC he was appointed to command 231 Field Company and was killed in Bourlon Wood near Cambrai on 26 November 1917.
Digest of Citation for the Victoria Cross reads:
On 25th September, 1915 during the attack on Hill 70, Second Lieutenant Johnson was with a section of his company, and although wounded in the leg, he stuck to his duty throughout the attack, led several charges on the German Redoubt, and at a very critical time, under heavy fire, repeatedly rallied the men who were near to him. By a splendid example and cool courage he was mainly instrumental in saving the situation and in establishing firmly this part of the position which had been taken. He remained at his post until relieved.
A total of 628 Victoria Crosses were awarded during the First World War: 454 Victoria Crosses were awarded to UK-born recipients; 173 were awarded to servicemen who fought for Britain, but were born overseas; 1 person was awarded the Victoria Cross twice during the First World War. Special paving stones will be laid in the home towns of every UK soldier awarded the Victoria Cross as part of 2014's World War I centenary events. The specially-commissioned stones will be given to councils in the areas where the VC recipients were born. A total of 28 will be unveiled next year to commemorate medals awarded in 1914 and a further 600 will be laid in every year up to 2018. Johnson's will be laid in September 2015 at Streatham, where he was born.
He attained the rank of Major.
He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Cambrai Memorial, Louverval, France.
Location of Memorial:
He is remembered on the memorial at St Dunstan's College, Catford.
Details:
He was born on 15 August, 1890 at Streatham and he died of wounds on 26 November, 1917.
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