Ernest Johnson
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Ernest Johnson was born in 1887 in Burton upon Trent and was the son of William Thomas a whitesmith and locksmith and Rosa Johnson née Garratt of 17 Trent Cottages, Barnstone Road, Burton upon Trent. His father William Thomas was born in 1850 in Burton upon Trent and his mother Rosa Garratt was born in 1857 in Appleby Leicestershire. They were married in 1877 in Burton upon Trent and went on to have 11 children sadly three of whom died in infancy or early childhood. Their children listed in the 1891/1901/1911 census were Annie b1878, Simon b1881, William b1884, Arnold b1886, Ernest b1887, Florence b1893, Ada b1895 and Rosa b1897 all were born in Burton. In the 1911 census the family are living at 17 Trent Cottages, Barnstone Road, Burton upon Trent and are shown as William Thomas 61 yrs a locksmith, he is living with his wife Rosa 53 yrs and their children Florence 18 yrs, Ada 16 yrs and Rosa 14 yrs , no occupation shown for any of the children. In the same 1911 census Ernest has left home and is living at the Chesterfield Arms Hotel at Bingham, he is single 24 yrs and a boot boy living with Peter and Elizabeth Nilles.
Lance Sergeant Ernest Johnson enlisted at Mansfield on 21st October 1915, he gave his age as 27 yrs and 215 days and his occupation as that of a labourer, his address was 18 High Street, Mansfield his next of kin was his mother Rosa Johnson 17 Trent Cottages, Branston Road, Burton upon Trent. He initially served with the service number 31619 in the Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire) Regiment. He was promoted to Lance Corporal on 10th January 1916 and to Corporal on 14th March 1916 He transferred to the 113th Company Machine Guns Corps on 14th March 1916 and embarked at Southampton on 16th May 1916 , disembarking the following day at Le Harve. He was killed in action on 11th July 1916 at Mametz, he has no known grave, his name is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.
Death notice published 18th August 1916 in the Nottingham Evening Post “Johnson- killed in action, July 11th, 1916, Lance Sergeant Ernest Johnson, aged 29 years, Machine Gun Section, Sherwood Foresters, of Burton on Trent, late of Bingham, Notts—Loving father, mother, brothers and sisters.”
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