Fred Varney Johnson
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
He was born about 1888 the son of Harry and Eliza Johnson. At the time of the 1911 census Harry and Eliza, who were living at 104 Hartley Road, Radford, completed the census that they had been married for 27 years and had had eight children born alive of whom seven were still living. Seven children were named on the census between 1891 and 1911; Harry A, Mabel, Fred Varney, Tom, Ivy, Constance and Dorothy Mabel (Dolly). In 1891 Harry and Eliza were living at 16 Alfred Street Central; Harry was a coach painter. There were three children in the household on the night of the census; Mabel (5), Fred Varney (3) and Tom (1). By 1901 the family was living at 104a Hartley Road, Radford; all seven children were in the household: Harry (16), Mabel (15), Fred (13), Tom (11), Ivy (7), Constance (6) and Dorothy Mabel (4). Ten years later they were still at the same address but only their three youngest daughters were at home; Ivy, Connie and Dorothy (Dolly). Fred married Florence CM Abdy in Nottingham in 1909 (marriage registered Jan/Feb/Mar) and by 1911 they were living at 14 Wilton Road, Nottingham. At the time of her husband's death, Florence, who was a leaf stripper for a tobacco manufacturer, was living at 2 Goodall Street, Hyson Green. They had no children. Florence married Edgar HP Trueman in Nottingham in 1917 (registered Apr/May/Jun) and died in 1932 aged 42.
He joined the army on 14 September 1904; his service record does not survive so it is not known whether he was in the regular army or Reserve/Territorials but he was in civilian employment in 1911. He entered theatre on 10 August 1914 and was killed in action two months later. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Le Touret memorial. He qualified for the 1914 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Nottingham Post notice (abridged), 5 December 1914: 'Johnson. Killed in action October 27th, Fred Varney, KOYLI, son of Harry and Eliza Johnson, 104a Hartley Road and husband of Florence Johnson, 2 Goodall Street, Hyson Green.' Soldiers' Effects: legatee, widow Florence Johnson (later listed as Mrs Florence Trueman).
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