Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Harold Ambrose Johnson was born at Sandford, Essex in 1891, moving to Australia before the Great War he enlisted with the Australian Imperial Force on 24 December 1914.

The 5th Light Horse Regiment was raised in Brisbane in September 1914, almost entirely from men who had enlisted in Queensland, and became part of the 2nd Light Horse Brigade. Sailing from Sydney on 21 December 1914, the regiment disembarked in Egypt on 1 February 1915.

Joining the 5th (Australian) Light Horse as part of the 4th Reinforcements at Gallipoli on 25 May 1915 Johnson was invalided to Hospital on 24 November of that same year with Cellulitis and transported to Tigne Hospital on Malta.

Transferred to All Saints Camp, Malta on 14 December he was discharged by 20 December, too late to re-join the campaign at Gallipoli. Travelling instead to Egypt he disembarked to Alexandria on 26 December 1915 and marched with his regiment to Maadi, falling ill again here he was admitted to Hospital, this time with Appendicitis and taken to 31 General Hospital at Port Said on 10 June 1916. Re-joining his unit at Dueidar on 12 December 1916.

Harold was promoted to Lance Corporal the month after the regiment was involved in the Second Battle of Gaza on 14 May 1917. The 5th's work predominantly continued to be patrols and raids until the advance stalled before the Turkish bastion of Gaza. The regiment participated in all three battles aimed at capturing the town, most notably the first abortive attempt on 27 March 1917. On this occasion the 5th attacked Gaza from the rear and was fighting its way through streets and gardens when ordered to withdraw.

He was awarded the Military Medal for his actions on 8 November 1917 when the Regiment was pursuing the retreating Ottoman forces after the Third Battle of Gaza.

The account of his MM is transcribed from a hand written recommendation dated 25 November 1917

“On the 8th inst at WADI EL HEESI this NCO showed great dash and fearlessness. His troop having captured two enemy guns were continuing in pursuit and engaged 300 enemy and machine guns at close range The pack-horse which carried the Hotchkiss gun ammunition was killed by machine gun fire.

L Cpl Johnson carried ammunition from this pack to the gun. He made two trips under the very heavy fire and in all carried 1200 rounds. His gallant action in bringing up this ammunition enabled his troop to hold the enemy by the continued use of the Hotchkiss gun, which otherwise would have been out of action, and also made it possible to get the wounded to a place of safety.

The position was only evacuated when the enemy fixed bayonets and charged “ 

(London Gazette 2 April 1918 page 4023)

With the fall of Gaza on 7 November 1917, the Turkish position in southern Palestine collapsed. The 5th was involved in the pursuit that followed, and then spent much of the first half of 1918 holding the west bank of the Jordan River. During this time it was involved in the Amman (24-27 February) and Es Salt (30 April-4 May) raids, both of which were tactical failures but helped to convince the Turks that the next offensive would be launched across the Jordan.

He was wounded in the Jordan Valley on 19 April 1918 in the foot and the right buttock, Johnson was admitted to 14th Army General Hospital on 25 May 1918 and embarked on 12 July 1918 he was returned to Australia for discharge

He died at Mount Isa, Queensland in January 1954 aged 63.

WW1 citations for gallantry awards to the Light Horse are frequently absent. In 1993 a bundle of documents from Colonel Sir Donald Cameron, late 5th Light Horse, were purchased from Military Postal Auctions by the Victoria Barracks Historical Society. As well as nominal rolls these included details of incidents and, vitally, award recommendations. These were published in a 2010 history, limited to 200 copies. It was from here that we obtained the MM citation. The medal having sold prior without details of the award specifics.