JOHNSON, William Frank Mayne
| Service Number: | 278 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 20 July 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 29th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Mount Gambier, South Australia , 30 May 1882 |
| Home Town: | Ballarat, Central Highlands, Victoria |
| Schooling: | St Peter’s College, Adelaide, South Australia |
| Occupation: | Miner and Assayer |
| Died: | Gunshot wound to spine - spinal abscess, 1st Eastern General Hospital, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England, 22 August 1916, aged 34 years |
| Cemetery: |
Cambridge City Cemetery, United Kingdom |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Hackney St Peter's College Fallen Honour Board |
World War 1 Service
| 20 Jul 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 278, 29th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 10 Nov 1915: | Involvement Private, 278, 29th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '16' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Ascanius embarkation_ship_number: A11 public_note: '' | |
| 10 Nov 1915: | Embarked Private, 278, 29th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ascanius, Melbourne |
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From the book Fallen Saints - William Frank Mayne Johnson was born at Mt Gambier South Australia, attended St Peter's College 1898-1901, and prior to the war worked as a miner and assayer.
After enlisting at Ballarat on 17 July 1915, he was posted to A Company, 29th Battalion and sailed from Melbourne aboard HMAT Ascanius on 10 November.
The 29th Battalion was raised at Broadmeadows Camp in Victoria on 10 August 1915 and with the 30th, 31st, and 32nd Battalions formed the 8th Infantry Brigade, which joined the newly raised 5th Division in Egypt.
The battalion fought at Fromelles and it was there on 19 July 1916 that Private William Johnson was severely wounded. Suffering with severe wounds to his face and back, he was admitted to 1st Canadian Clearing Station on 20 July then the following day was evacuated to 13th Stationary Hospital, Boulogne.
On 13 August he was transported to England aboard HS Jan Breydel and there admitted to 1st Eastern General Hospital, Cambridge. Suffering from a spinal abscess as a result of a gunshot wound to the Thorax, Private William Johnson died of wounds on 22 August 1916; he was 34 years of age. [i]
[i] National Archives of Australia: B 2455/1, Johnson William Frank Mayne / 1828897, viewed 17 June 2007
Biography contributed by Cathy Sedgwick
The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick (OAM) – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland”
William Frank Mayne Johnson was born on 30th May, 1882 at Mount Gambier, South Australia to parents John & Mary Isabella Johnson (nee Mayne).
He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) at Ballarat, Victoria on 20th July, 1915 as a 33 year old, single, Miner & Assayer from Mt. Gambier, South Australia.
Private William Frank Mayne Johnson, Service number 278, (Name listed on Embarkation Roll as Mayne William Frank Johnson) embarked from Melbourne, Victoria on HMAT Ascanius (A11) on 10th November, 1915 with the 8th Infantry Brigade, 29th Infantry Battalion, “A” Company & disembarked at Suez on 7th December, 1915.
On 16th June, 1916 Private Johnson embarked from Alexandria on Tunisian to join B.E.F. (British Expeditionary Force). He disembarked at Marseilles, France on 23rd June, 1916.
Private William Frank Mayne Johnson was wounded in action on 19/20th July, 1916 in France. He was admitted to 1st Canadian Casualty Clearing Station on 20th July, 1916 with gunshot wound to face & back (severe) then transferred the same day to No. 7 Ambulance Train. Private Johnson was admitted to 13th Stationary Hospital at Boulogne, France on 21st July, 1916 with shrapnel wounds to left shoulder. Private Johnson embarked for England on Hospital Ship Jan Breydel on 13th August, 1916.
Dr J. Johnson, father of Private William Frank Mayne Johnson, was advised on 16th August, 1918 that Private William F. M. Johnson had been admitted to 13th Stationary Hospital with a gunshot wound to shoulder (severe). Dr Johnson sent a Telegram on 17th August, 1916 requesting the address for Private W. F. M. Johnson. Base Records replied with the address details.
On 13th August, 1916 Private Johnson was admitted to 1st Eastern General Hospital, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England with gunshot wounds to thorax (serious).
Private William Frank Mayne Johnson died on 22nd August, 1916 at 1st Eastern General Hospital, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England.
A Post Mortem was held on 23rd August, 1916 by Captain W. Malden, Pathologist. “Well nourished man – healed wound on back on vertitral (?) border rt scapula. Thorax – nothing abnormal. Abdomen – kidneys intensely congested acute cystitis nothing else abnormal at back of pharynx opposite epiglottis in middle line no bullet wound penetrating 7th cervical upper dorsal & cervical spine removed 7th cervical vestilra (?) fracture abscess cavity in spinal canal involving cord from 7th cervical __ rt doral – meninges much thickened, cord considerably disorganised.” The cause of death was from wounds received in action in France – gunshot wound to spine - spinal abscess.
He was buried in Cambridge City Cemetery, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England – Grave site “D” 2488.
In April, 1920, Dr. J. Johnson, Public Hospital, Mt. Gambier, South Australia, father of the late Private W. F. M. Johnson, was advised by Base Records that the remains of his late son had been exhumed from former site & re-interred in Grave No. 3640 Section “B ”, Cambridge Cemetery, Cambridge, England. “This work is carried out with every measure of care and reverence in the presence of a Chaplain.”
Private William Frank Mayne Johnson has a Commonwealth War Graves Commission headstone.
(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/city.html
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