William Johnson
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
James William (William) was the son of Fred Johnson and his first wife Alice (née Tilison or Tillison also known as Ryves). His father Fred was born in Grimsby, Lincolnshire, in about 1873, the son of William and Jane Johnson. In 1891 Fred, a labourer, and his father, a carter (colliery) were lodgers in Crofton, Yorkshire. His mother Alice was born in Retford in 1871 (birth registered Tillison), and her mother, Susannah Tillison married James Ryves in 1875. By 1891 Alice's widowed father was living on Poplar Street, ORdsall, with his nine children, who were aged between two and 20; Alice, the eldest daughter, was the family's housekeeper. Fred and Alice (Tellison Ryves) were married at Ordsall All Hallows in 1892 and had at least seven children who were born in Ordsall or Retford: James William birth registered 1893 (J/F/M), Florence b. 1894, Albert b. 1896, Frederick b. 1899, Harold birth registered 1901 (J/F/M) d. 1913 (J/A/S), Ada b. 1902 and Edith b. 1904. Fred, his wife Alice and their five children, James William, Florence, Albert, Frederick and Harold were living at 12 Whitehall Road, Ordsall, in 1901. Alice died in 1909 aged 38. In 1911 Fred, a fitter's labourer and six of his seven children, James William a farm labourer, Albert a labourer (rubber works), Frederick, Harold (d. 1913), Ada and Edith, together with a housekeeper, Hannah Ley (60), a widow, were living at 3 Poplar Street, Retford. The eldest daughter Florence was probably working as a domestic servant at the Clinton Hotel, 24 Albert Street, Retford, in the employ of the publican, Edward Stoppelhardt. Fred Johnson married secondly Edith Kirton (née Ledger), a widow, in 1912. Edith Ledger (b. Retford 1876) had married Charles Sandifer Kirton at Retford St. Saviour in 1893. They had seven children three of whom died in infancy/childhood: Nellie b. 1896 d. 1896, Charles b. 1897 d. 1897, Thomas b. 1898, Edith b. 1901 d. 1903, Charles b. 1903, William b. 1906 and Jessie b. 1908. In 1911 Edith, who was now widowed, was a boarding house keeper and living at 1 Poplar Street, Ordsall, with her four surviving children, Tom, Charles, William and Jessie. Fred and Edith had three children: Hilda May birth registered 1913 (J/F/M), Edward Arthur b. 13 February 1914 and Leslie b. 1917. William attested in the Territorial Force in January 1914. He was then living at 5 Station Road, Retford, and named his father Fred and stepmother Edith of the same address as his next of kin. Fred completed a form for the army in 1919 listing his son William's surviving blood relatives: Father: Fred Johnson, 5 Station Road Retford Brother: Albert Johnson, 5 Station Road Retford Half-brother: Edward Arthur Johnson (5), 5 Station Road Retford Half-sister: Hilda May Johnson (7), 5 Station Road Retford. Fred omitted William's half-brother Leslie Johnson (b. 1917) and only named his brother Albert although it is likely that four other siblings, Florence, Frederick, Ada and Edith, also survived him. Fred was still living in Retford at the time of the 1921 census when ten people were recorded in the household. The full transcript has not been sighted but the names/years of birth of the ten were: Fred Johnson (1872), Edith Johnson (1877), Albert Johnson (1896), Fred Johnson (1899), Edith Johnson (1903-sic), Hilda Johnson (1913), Tom Kirton (1898), Charlie Kirton (1903), William Kirton (1906) and Jessie Kirton (1908). Fred died in 1922. In 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled, Fred's widow Edith was living on Strawberry Road, Retford, with her sons Edward Arthur Johnson, Leslie Johnson and Charles Kirton and his wife (m. 1938). Edith probably died in 1957. William's stepbrother, Thomas Kirton, attested on 5 June 1916, he was then living at 5 Station Road, Retford. He transferred to the Army Reserve on 6 June and was then mobilised in January 1917. He served in the Lincolnshire Regiment later transferring to the 57 Labour Company, 7th Lincolnshire Regiment (52544 ), serving in France. He was discharged in 1919 in the rank of sergeant; home address 5 Station Road. William's half-brother, Edward Arthur Johnson, served in the Second World War and died in 1944 (see 'Extra information').
1/8th Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment). Served as William Johnson. William attested in the Territorial Force on a 4 years service (UK) engagement in January 1914. He was 20 years 11 months old and worked as a labourer for the Northern Rubber Company. He transferred to embodied service on 5 August 1914 and moved to France on 2 March 1915. He was one killed seven weeks later with six other men from the Battalion on 24 April when a mortar shell hit a trench the battalion was holding. Like his six comrades, William was buried in Kemmel Chateau Military Cemetery, Belgium (grave ref. E.75). Service: Home 6 January 1914-1 March 1914. BEF France 2 March 1915-24 April 1915. Served 1 year 109 days. He qualified for the 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. CWGC - History of Kemmel Chateau Military Cemetery (extract): The Cemetery is 8km from the town of Ieper (Ypres). 'Kemmel Chateau was north-east of Kemmel village and the cemetery was established on the north side of the chateau grounds in December 1914. It continued to be used by divisions fighting on the southern sectors of the Belgian front until March 1918, when after fierce fighting involving both Commonwealth and French forces, the village and cemetery fell into German hands in late April. The cemetery was retaken later in the year, but in the interval it was badly shelled and the old chateau destroyed.' (www.cwgc.org)
The seven men of the 1/8th Battalion Sherwood Foresters who were killed on 24 April 1915 were buried in Kemmel Chateau Military Cemetery, Belgium: 2434 Private Herbert Grant ( E.70), 1213 Private Albert Edward Hincks (E.77), 2002 Private Herbert Husband (E.72), 1867 Private William Johnson (E.75), 78 Private William Pattison (E.71), 1839 Private Harry Randall (E.78) and 1849 Private Ernest Worthington (E.79). (See records on this Roll of Honour). Worksop Guardian, 7th May 1915 (extract): 'Seven Territorials Killed' 'Retford Territorials have already suffered heavily by the war, the news coming on Friday evening that seven members of the Retford Company of the Sherwood Foresters had been killed on the same day, just before leaving the trenches. The names of the seven are:- Ptes. W Pattison, a well known official and ex-player of the Town Football Club, H Husband, H Grant, H Randall, A Worthington, W Hincks, and W Johnson. Three were employees at the Northern Rubber Works, vis., Pattison, Randall and Worthington and the remainder were connected with the railway service. 'Some particulars of the sad affair are contained in a letter dated April 26th from Pte Frank Farrand [KIA 14 October 1915] to his parents, Mr and Mrs Farrand, 36 West Street. The letter is as follows:- “Dear Father and Mother, I received your letter on Sunday, the day we came out of the trenches, where we have been for five days. We have had a bit of bad luck this last time, for we have lost seven Retford lads, their names being, Ptes. W Pattison, H Husband, H Grant, H Randall, A Worthington, W Hincks, and W Johnson. I expect you will know by the time this letter reaches you. It is a very sad affair, but they all died like hero’s, every one. It occurred about five o’clock on Saturday night. It (April 26th) had been very quiet all day, and we were getting ready to be relieved, when all of a sudden, the Germans started to shell us, especially with trench mortars, these shells dropping clean into the trench. They blew the parapet down and then the dogs turned a machine gun on that spot. It was awful, I can tell you. But we stuck it, and this afternoon we have been highly praised by General Stuart Wortley. He also said our Company, ‘D’ and ‘B’ Company, behaved magnificently under such heavy shell fire. He also called the officers of the same Companies and eventually congratulated them. He also said next time his dispatch went to Sir John French he would put it all forward, so I think we are starting to make a name for the 8th. We lost a few Retford lads, but we cannot go in to action without having any casualties. You can take it from me, we shall always remember the 24th of April, the day of the final of the English Cup, and the day we lost our pals. We are having a five days’ rest before going in again.” 'Another Retford Terrier writes:- “We went into the trenches again on Monday night. The Retford and Newark Companies had a very bad time. You will have heard before this letter reaches you that seven of the Retford fellows were killed and one very badly wounded. What is known as a trench mortar (a kind of shell that is dropped in the trenches) exploded in their midst. I am sorry to say that amongst the killed were young Hinks of Wharton Street and young Grant of Ollerton Road, two young men who G – knows very well. You would also be very sorry to hear of the death of Mr Eddison of Mount Vernon. He was shot while in front of the trench one night putting up some wire entanglements.” 'Another Retford young man writes:- “I have some bad news for you at Retford. H Randall, Hinks, Johnson, Grant, Husband, Pattison and Worthington were all killed on Saturday the 24th. There are some wounded as well. It was murder for the company. They thought they were all lost. Husband was standing near his brother when he got hit. Some of my mates had to bury them. My God! It is awful to think about.”' A War Office letter of November 1915 authorised the return of William's personal property to his father. This property comprised identity disc, pipe, purse (empty), pencils, testament and a notebook. Fred Johnson acknowledged receipt on 8 December William's half-brother, Edward Arthur Johnson, the son of Fred Johnson and his second wife Edith (formerly Kirton, née Ledger), served in the Second World War. He attested in 1940 and joined 54 (The Queen's Own) Royal Glasgow Yeomanry Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery (1122640 Gunner). Edward died on 28 August 1944 aged 30 and was buried in Ordsall (All Hallows) Churchyard, Nottinghamshire. Married Joan Eileen Clark in 1941.
