William Leslie Johnson
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
William Leslie (known as Leslie) was born in 1897 in Nottingham and was the eldest son of John William a chair maker and Nellie Johnson née Smith of 131,Brushfield St, Hyson Green, Nottingham. His father John William was born in 1875 in Nottingham and his mother was born in 1876 also in Nottingham, they were married in 1896 in Nottingham and went on to have 9 children I of whom sadly died in infancy prior to 1911. Their surviving children were all born in Nottingham and were :- Leslie b1897, Frank b1898, Evelyn b1900, Gladys b1906, Arthur b1907, Leonard b1910, Violet b1912 and Dorothy b1915. In the 1911 census the family are living at 16 Hovenden Gardens, Hyson Green, Nottingham and were shown as John William Johnson 36 yrs , he is living with his wife Nellie 35 yrs and their children , Leslie 14 yrs an errand boy, Frank 13 yrs an errand boy, Evelyn 11 yrs, Gladys 5 yrs, Arthur 4 yrs and Leonard 1 yr. The family home was at 131 Brushfield Street at the time of Frank and Leslie's deaths in 1918 and his parents were still living there in 1929 when a notice commemorating their deaths was published in the local paper.
Corporal William Leslie Johnson enlisted on 10th December 1915 in Nottingham , he was 18 yrs and 4 months of age, his address was 131 Brushfield Street, Hyson Green, Nottingham, his next of kin was his mother Nellie of the same address, his occupation was that of tapping drill holes. The following day he was posted to the reserves. He was mobilised on 27th February 1917 when he was 20 yrs and 4 months of age and posted to the Sherwood Foresters Regiment. He embarked from Folkstone on 3rd June 1917, disembarking the same day at Boulogne and arrived at his base depot on 4th June 1917. William was posted to 122 Company of the Machine Gun Corps on 15th June 1917. He was promoted to Lance Corporal on 8th May 1918 and to Corporal on 14th June 1918. William was killed in action on 18th October 1918 and is buried in Dadizeele New British Cemetery (grave reference 3.B.3).
His brother Frank Johnson also served during the 'Great War' he served in the Royal Garrison Artillery and died on 24th June 1916 and is buried in Nottingham General Cemetery. CWGC headstone, personal inscription: 'Still in our heards he liveth'. His brother Frank's headstone has the same inscription. Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam 1914-18, 18 October 1929: ‘Johnson. Treasured memories of [William] Leslie, killed in action October 18th, 1918, also Frank, died Military Hospital, June 24th 1918. Sadly missed. Mam. Sisters and brothers, 131 Brushfield-street.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
