JOHNSON, Walter
| Service Number: | 4151 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 25th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Lismore, New South Wales, Australia, May 1893 |
| Home Town: | Coraki, Lismore Municipality, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Killed in action, Belgium, 20 September 1917 |
| Cemetery: |
Bedford House Cemetery, Flanders, Belgium Plot III, Row D, Grave No. 16. |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Casino and District Memorial Hospital WW1 Roll of Honour, Coraki Honour Board, Coraki War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 28 Mar 1916: | Involvement Private, 4151, 25th Infantry Battalion, Third Ypres, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '15' embarkation_place: Brisbane embarkation_ship: HMAT Commonwealth embarkation_ship_number: A73 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 28 Mar 1916: | Embarked Private, 4151, 25th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Commonwealth, Brisbane |
Help us honour Walter Johnson's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Walter Johnson was one of two sons of Andrew and Hannah Johnson of Coraki, New South Wales, who enlisted in the AIF.
They died only weeks apart in the heavy fighting near Ypres, Belgium during 1917. Walter’s younger brother, 6106 Pte. Arthur Andrew Johnson 18th Battalion AIF, was killed in action on 7 October 1917, aged 22.
The Richmond River Herald printed an article regarding Walter’s death during October 1917. “A wave of regret will spread throughout the district as the result of the news that Private Walter Johnson, son of Mr. and Mrs. A. Johnson, of the Glebe, Coraki, has made the great sacrifice on the western front, having been killed in action on September 25th. Deceased was a fine, sturdy, typical young Australian, and, along with several others who had been mates since boyhood, he joined the ranks about two years ago. He saw much severe fighting on the Australian front, both in Belgium and France, took part in a, number of advances, and was wounded some time ago. His death will be, genuinely deplored by a host of friends, but it is some consolation to the family circle to know that a son and brother had proved a good and gallant soldier, and that when his end came it was while striking a blow for the country that bore him. Profound sympathy will be extended to his parents, who are old and highly respected residents of Coraki, and have proved their loyalty by allowing their only two eligible sons to go to the front. Pte. Arthur Johnson is still with the Australian forces.”
Walter’s identity disc was returned to his family during 1923 when his body was exhumed and reinterred in the Bedford House Cemetery Enclosure.
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