Thomas Johnson
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Thomas was born in 1891 in Dronfield, Derbyshire. He had two sisters both born in Dronfield, Mary Ann born 1888 and Elizabeth 1897. Their father, Thomas senior, aged 40, died the same year that Elizabeth was born. In 1901, their mother, Ellen Johnson, had taken work as a telephone operator in order to support herself and her children, but died in 1907 at the age of 46. Elizabeth Johnson was placed in the Chesterfield Union Children’s Home and Thomas was a boarder at Dronfield and was working for the Malleable Iron Works. In 1915, Mary married Isaac Rowley and resided at Nether Langwith, where Thomas became a lodger before enlisting at Mansfield.
1/8th Bn Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment) Thomas was killed on 30 September 1918 and was buried in Brie British Cemetery, France (grave ref. IV.C.7). According to a history of the Battalion, it spent 30 September in dug-outs and trenches 'in the region of our objective the previous day, between Bellenglise and Lehaucourt.' The list of casualties shows only three on 30 September, including Company Sergeant Major JF Rawlings, who had been wounded the previous day, and 23041 Private Ernest Walker who also died of wounds. (See records on this Roll of Honour). CWGC - Brie British Cemetery (extract): 'On 18-20 March 1917, Commonwealth troops repaired the bridge and took the village of Brie during the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line. The village and the bridge were later lost on 23 March 1918, during the German offensive, but were regained on 5 September when the 32nd Division cleared the village. The cemetery was begun by Commonwealth units after the second occupation of the village and taken over by the 5th, 47th and 48th Casualty Clearing Stations, which were posted at Brie in September and October before being moved on along the St. Quentin road to Bihecourt, near Vermand. It was enlarged after the Armistice when graves were brought in from the battlefields east and south of Brie and the following cemeteries [listed].'
CWGC additional information: Brother of Mrs. M. A. Rowley, of Blue Barn Cottages, Langwith, Mansfield, Notts. Inscription on the War Memorial information board, Nether Langwith: 'Thomas JOHNSON (Private). Thomas Johnson was the son of Thomas and Ellen Johnson of Dronfield. Having lost both his parents, Thomas lodged with his sister, Mary Ann Rowley in one of the cottages at Blue Barn Farm. He was a lathe operative and prior to enlistment was employed at Langwith Colliery. In the final push of 1918, Thomas was severely wounded and like so many others, died through loss of blood on the 30th September 1918. He is buried in the Brie British Cemetery, Somme, France.' Thomas Johnson's name was not included on the original memorial but his name was added when the memorial was refurbished in 2013. Nether Langwith village is in the parish of Norton Cuckney St Mary and Thomas is commemorated on both Norton Cuckney St Mary and Nether Langwith memorials.
