George Edwards Johnson
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Born 1893 at Netherfield, son of Abraham and Ellen Johnson. Ellen had been married previously to George Edwards by whom she had four daughters, Emily, Annie, Florence and Sarah and they lived at Gedling. Following George's death Ellen remarried to Abraham Johnson and they moved to Netherfield where they had George Edwards and Elsie. In 1901 the family were living at No 13 Wesley Grove, Carrington. By 1911 Abraham had also died after 6 years of marriage and the family had moved to No 4, Oak Villas, Colwick Vale, Notts. George was working on the Great Northern railway as an engine cleaner. Ellen died in 1939 and was buried in Gedling Cemetery along with two of her daughters from her marriage to George Edwards senior, Florence and Sarah, and a daughter from her marriage to Abraham, Elsie. George Edwards Johnson is also commemorated on the headstone but no mention is made of the medal he won.
George joined up on 21 June 1917 at Colwick and was sent to Longmoor camp to do his training where he joined the 21st Light Railway Operating Company, part of the Royal Engineers, essentially doing his civilian job as an engine fireman. He moved to France in November 1917. Following his heroic actions in moving an ammunition train at Crombeke during which he lost his life he was buried in Haringhe (Bandaghem) Military Cemetery Belgium, and is also commemorated on the family grave at Gedling Cemetery. George was posthumously awarded the Albert medal for his bravery and self sacrifice as related in the London Gazette. He was also eligible for the British and Victory medals.
Citation The following particulars are given in "The London Gazette", No. 30,876, dated Friday, 30th Aug., 1918, of the acts for which the Albert Medal was awarded to C.S.M. A. H. Furlonger, D.C.M., Spr. J. C. Farren and Spr. G. E. Johnson, who are buried in this Cemetery, as well as to Lce. Cpl. J. E. Bigland and Spr. J. H. Woodman, all of the Royal Engineers :- "In Flanders, on the 30th April, 1918, a train of ammunition had been placed at an ammunition refilling point, and after the engine had been detached, and was being run off the train, the second truck suddenly burst into flames. Furlonger immediately ordered Bigland, the driver, to move the engine back on to the train for the purpose of pulling away the two trucks nearest the engine. Bigland did so without hesitation, and the engine was coupled up by Furlonger, assisted by Farren, while the burning truck was uncoupled from the remainder of the train by Woodman. The two trucks were then drawn away clear of the ammunition dump, it being the intention to uncouple the burning wagon from the engine and the first wagon and so isolate it, with the object of localising the fire as far as possible. The uncoupling was about to be done when the ammunition exploded, completely wrecking the engine and both trucks, killing Furlonger, Farren and Johnson (a member of the train crew), and seriously wounding Bigland. Had it not been for the prompt and courageous action of these men, whereby three of them lost their lives and one was seriously injured, there is not the slightest doubt that the whole dump would have been destroyed and many lives lost". In memoriam published 30th April 1919 in the Nottingham Evening Post :- “JOHNSON. – Sacred to the memory of Spr. George Edward, Albert Medallist, dearly loved and only son of Mrs. Johnson, Oak Villas, Colwick Vale, killed in Belgium April 30th, 1918. Greater loved hath no man than this; he gave his life to save others. Deeply mourned. – Mother and sisters.” Above in memoriam is courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918
