JOHNSON, Henry
| Service Number: | 2428 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 56th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Near Warren, New South Wales, Australia, 1884 |
| Home Town: | Picton, Wollondilly, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Jaundice (also G.S.W. to left hand), The Beaufort War Hospital, Bristol, England , 6 May 1918 |
| Cemetery: |
Bristol (Arnos Vale) Roman Catholic Cemetery, Gloucestershire, United Kingdom |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 30 Sep 1916: | Involvement Private, 2428, 56th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '19' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Aeneas embarkation_ship_number: A60 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 30 Sep 1916: | Embarked Private, 2428, 56th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Aeneas, Sydney |
Help us honour Henry Johnson's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Cathy Sedgwick
The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick (OAM) – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland”
Henry Johnson was born near Warren, New South Wales around 1884 to parents Henry and Sarah Jones Johnson.
He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 28th March, 1916 as a 32 year old, single, Labourer from Picton, NSW.
Private Henry Johnson, Service number 2428, embarked from Sydney, NSW on HMAT Aeneas (A60) on 30th September, 1916 with the 56th Infantry Battalion, 5th Reinforcements & disembarked at Plymouth, England on 19th November, 1916.
Reinforcements were only given basic training in Australia. Training was completed in training units in England. Some of these were located in the Salisbury Plain & surrounding areas in the county of Wiltshire.
He proceeded overseas to France on 31st December, 1916 on Princess Henrietta from 14th Training Battalion & was marched in to 5th A.D.B.D. (Australian Divisional Base Depot) at Etaples, France on 1st January, 1917. Private Johnson was to be Acting Corporal (E.D.P. – extra duty pay) from 2nd January, 1917. Acting Corporal Johnson was marched out to his Unit on 1st February, 1917 & was taken on strength of 56th Battalion in France on 7th February, 1917. On joining 56th Battalion he reverted to the rank of Private.
On 16th March, 1917 Private Johnson reported sick. He was admitted to 14th Australian Field Ambulance on 23rd March, 1917 with “Def Vision” & discharged to duty on 25th March, 1917. He rejoined his Battalion in France on 19th March, 1917. (*dates as listed on Casualty Form – Active Service).
Private Johnson reported sick on 23rd March, 1917. He was admitted to 15th Field Ambulance on 23rd March, 1917 with Ophthmalia then transferred to Casualty Clearing Station. He rejoined his Battalion from Hospital on 27th March, 1917.
He was posted as an Absentee on 22nd May, 1917 & rejoined his Battalion on 14th June, 1917.
A Field General Court Martial was held in the Field on 22nd June, 1917. Private Henry Johnson was charged with absenting himself without leave from 2 pm on 22nd May, 1917 until 1.45 pm on 11th June, 1917 (21 days). He was found guilty & sentenced to 6 months detention. This was confirmed by Major General Hobbs. His Sentence was commuted to 90 days Field Punishment No. 1. Private Johnson had been under arrest awaiting trial from 1.45 pm on 11th June, 1917 to 21st June, 1917. He was awarded a total forfeiture of 121 days’ pay.
On 18th July, 1917 Private Johnson was sent sick to Hospital from detention. He was admitted to 14th Field Ambulance on 18th July, 1917 with Scabies then transferred to 5th D.R.S. (Divisional Rest Station) the same day. Private Johnson was then transferred & admitted to Corps Scabies Station on 18th July, 1917 & discharged to duty on 26th July, 1917. He rejoined his Battalion on 29th July, 1917.
He was marched out to Detention on 2nd August, 1917. The Army Commander remitted 7 days Field Punishment No. 1 of Sentence awarded on account of good conduct & industry in Corps on 7th September, 1917. Private Johnson rejoined 56th Battalion on 13th September, 1917 from Detention.
Private Henry Johnson was wounded in action in France on 26th September, 1917. He was admitted to 6th Field Ambulance on 26th September, 1917 with GSW (gunshot wound/s) to left shoulder then transferred to 10th Casualty Clearing Station the same day. Private Johnson was transferred to Ambulance Train on 26th September, 1917 & admitted to 3rd Canadian General Hospital at Boulogne, France on 27th September, 1917 with shrapnel wounds to shoulder. He was transferred & admitted to 7th Convalescent Depot at Boulogne on 2nd October, 1917. Private Johnson was transferred on 4th October, 1917 to 10th Convalescent Depot at Ecault then transferred on 8th October, 1917 to Rest Camp.
On 11th October, 1917 Private Johnson was marched in to 5th D.B.D. (Divisional Base Depot) at Havre from Hospital. He was written up on 27th October, 1917 for being in Town without a pass on 25th October, 1917. He was awarded a forfeiture of 2 days’ pay. Private Johnson was marched out to his Unit on 27th October, 1917 from 5th D.B.D. & rejoined 56th Battalion in the Field on 29th October, 1917.
He was sent to UK on leave from 15th February, 1918 & rejoined his Battalion from leave on 6th March, 1918.
On 19th April, 1918 Private Johnson was written up for a Crime: 1. Disobedience of Orders in that he left the Company Bivouac contrary to orders. 2. Being improperly dressed in that he was wearing blue trousers which were not part of his uniform on 16th April, 1918. He was awarded 28 days Field Punishment No.2.
Private Henry Johnson was wounded in action (2nd occasion) on 23rd April, 1918. He was admitted to 14th Field Ambulance on 23rd April, 1918 with GSW (gunshot wound/s) to hand. He was transferred to 20th Casualty Clearing Station on 23rd April, 1918 then transferred on 24th April, 1918 to Ambulance Train 41. Private Johnson was admitted to 8th Stationary Hospital at Rouen, France on 25th April, 1918. He embarked for England on 26th April, 1918 on Hospital Ship Grantully Castle.
On 27th April, 1918 Private Johnson was admitted to The Beaufort War Hospital, Bristol, England with shrapnel wounds to left hand.
Private Henry Johnson died at 6 am on 6th May, 1918 at The Beaufort War Hospital, Bristol, England from Jaundice (also G.S.W. to left hand).
He was buried in Arnos Vale Roman Catholic Cemetery, Bristol, England where 6 other WW1 Australian Soldiers are laid to rest.
(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/arnos-vale-rc.html
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